Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 January 2005. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 January 2005 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date the Iraq Survey Group (ISG) stopped searching for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction; what proportion of the ISG's cost was met by the United Kingdom; and what the total United Kingdom financial commitment, including salaries of British personnel involved was, to the ISG. - Includes fact that cost included in the published costs of Operation Telic. It is not possible to either identify the net additional costs related solely to the work of the UK personnel or the proportion of total costs met by the UK.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Iraq Survey Group (ISG) stopped searching for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction; what proportion of the ISG's cost was met by the United Kingdom; and what the total United Kingdom financial commitment, including salaries of British personnel involved, was to the ISG. [209160] Mr. Hoon: Following the conclusions of the Comprehensive Report of the Special Adviser to the Director Central Intelligence published on 30 September 2004, the Iraq Survey Group is no longer conducting an active programme of field investigations into weapons of mass destruction, but it does continue to investigate information relating to WMD as it becomes available. The net additional cost of activities undertaken by UK personnel attached to the ISG has been met by the UK and is included in the published costs of Operation Telic. It is not possible to either identify the net additional costs related solely to the work of the UK personnel in the ISG, or the proportion of total costs met by the UK.

Secondary information