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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on arrangements he has made with the media to ensure that there is no release of information on casualties prior to the next of kin being informed. [105374] Dr. Moonie: Arrangements between the media and the Ministry of Defence during the conflict in Iraq are conducted in accordance with the details laid out in the Green Book--"Working Arrangements with the Media in times of Emergency, Tension, Conflict or War". The document has been made available to the media and has been placed on the MOD website at: www.mod.uk/news/green book/index.htm The MOD recognises that casualty information is of legitimate interest to the media and the general public. However, the Green Book explains that our casualty notification process has been developed to minimise the distress of the families concerned, and states that the names of casualties will not be released or confirmed until the next of kin have been told officially. We recognise that on occasions the media may become aware of the names of individual casualties before official announcements are made. Editors are urged not to publish such information., gained from whatever source--even if it comes directly from a next of kin-- until it is released or confirmed by the MOD. Editors are also urged to exercise extreme discretion in approaching next of kin.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

105374; 402 c307W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Death Armed conflict Casualties Families Iraq Journalism Press Newspaper press Television Iraq conflict

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk