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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of private contractors in the (a) administration, (b) interrogation and (c) handling of prisoners under UK jurisdiction in Iraq; which contractors are involved; and which laws are applicable to their activities. [171443] Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether civilian (a) contractors and (b) interrogators are employed in Iraqi jails under the control of British forces. [171987] Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the minimum requirements demanded by his Department are of the individual contractors employed to be involved in the detention of the prisoners of UK forces in Iraq; and at what level in his Department the decision was taken to employ each in these roles; [172325] (2) what factors underlay the decision to employ private contractors to assist with the detention of prisoners of UK forces in Iraq in preference to (a) his Department's staff and (b) seconded prison officers from the UK; and if he will make a statement; [172326] (3) how many private contractors are involved in dealing with prisoners of UK forces in Iraq; from which companies they are employed; at which locations they are used; who is responsible for there behaviour; what their responsibilities are; what the cost of their employment was in April; and for how long he intends to employ them. [172329] Mr. Ingram :[holding answer 11 May 2004]: There are no private contractors employed in the direct administration, interrogation or handling of prisoners under the United Kingdom jurisdiction in Iraq. Iraqi criminal justice system prisons are under the control of the Coalition Provisional Authority through the Ministry of Justice. The administration and handling of prisoners in Ministry of Justice run prisons is carried out by Iraqi Correctional Service employees. The Ministry of Justice employs local contractors in the following capacities. Septic tank emptying Catering Food provision Water supply Building works Guarding prison sites No interrogation takes place in Ministry of Justice prisons.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

171443; 423 c145-6W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Detainees Iraq Interviews Private sector Prisons Peacekeeping operations Staff

Link

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