Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Thursday, 27 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 April 2003. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 April 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library the guidelines adopted for deciding which targets are chosen to attack in Iraq.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the guidelines adopted for deciding which targets are chosen to attack in Iraq. [106357] Mr. Hoon: The military campaign is crafted around the principle of minimum use of force. We attack only military objectives and combatants subject to the constraints of proportionality. If there is any expectation that harm will be caused to civilians, this must not be excessive when set against the direct and concrete military advantage anticipated from the attack. That approach folly reflects our obligations under international law. It is not our practice to publish the targeting guidelines, since to do so would provide the Iraqi regime and future potential enemies with information which might jeopardise the effectiveness of this and future military operations. I am therefore withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 1 (Defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 106357; 403 c297W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Armed forces Armed conflict Deployment Iraq conflict Military intervention
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk