Written question asked by David Leslie Taylor (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 25 January 2005. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 January 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the merits of an independent inquiry into the number of (a) Iraqi military personnel and (b) Iraqi civilians killed or injured by the activities of Coalition forces in Iraq since 19th March 2003; and if he will make a statement. - Includes ref to 17 November 2004, 426 c92-5WS.

Answer: David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of an independent inquiry into the number of (a) Iraqi military personnel and (b) Iraqi civilians killed or injured by the activities of coalition forces in Iraq since 19 March 2003; and if he will make a statement. [209234] Mr. Rammell: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary explained in his written statement to Parliament on 17 November 2004, Official Report, columns 92-95WS, we believe that the Iraqi authorities remain in the best position to record casualties in their country. An independent inquiry is highly unlikely to be able to gain better access and provide more accurate information on casualties than the Iraqi Government.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 209234; 430 c231W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Disclosure of information Armed forces Casualties Civilians Inquiries Iraq Peacekeeping operations
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk