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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken since the occupation of Iraq to ensure that (a) members of the armed forces and other United Kingdom personnel and persons employed by contractors there comply with international human rights and humanitarian law, (b) there are effective safeguards and sanctions against abuse by contractors and (c) there are effective remedies for any victims of such abuse. [183942] Mr. Straw: [holding answer 20 July 2004]: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to him today (UIN 183941). UK armed forces personnel are subject to UK law as they would be in the UK. As in the UK or in other operational theatres, the responsibility for enforcing the law lies with the Royal Military Police. Anyone found to have broken the law is dealt with appropriately, but of course it is important to establish the facts first. This is what we are now doing with regard to allegations against UK military personnel in Iraq. The Coalition Provisional Authority put in place a number of regulations that apply to foreign contractors in Iraq. These regulations are set out in CPA Order 17 and CPA Memorandum 17, which can be found on the CPA website at www.cpa-iraq.org. Any claims arising from actions attributable to UK military personnel will be considered against UK national law.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

183942; 424 c541-2W;424 c542W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Abuse Armed forces Human rights Iraq International law Victims Sanctions Private military and security companies

Link

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