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Iraq (Basra Incident)

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his welcome, but more importantly I thank him for his expression of condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and the friends of those who have been killed. The hon. Gentleman asks specifically whether the results of the investigation into the cause of the incident will become known. A full board of inquiry is in progress. At this stage, an investigation is taking place by a highly qualified team of expert investigators, and the results will inform the board of inquiry. As I understand it, the process is that its results will be made public, to the extent that they can be without undermining the security of our personnel in theatre. He has my assurance that the board of inquiry will proceed in a way that is no different from any other in such circumstances. The hon. Gentleman can be reassured that thanks to the support of the Iraqi army and police force, which put themselves on the front line between those in the crowd who were intent on harming our forces and, indeed, did harm them, the accident site was secured. The information I have is that although it was a very difficult and complex site, the necessary investigations were able to take place. I am unable to inform the House whether investigation of the site has concluded, but in any event all that information will be brought together and inform the board of inquiry’s determinations. The hon. Gentleman raises a question on the sufficiency of equipment, in particular helicopters. I assure him that we keep the amount of equipment and the nature of equipment under review, and we will respond to requests from theatre. In the context of this statement and the circumstances that have brought me to the House, it is far too early to say what the implications of the incident are for equipment or indeed the operating procedures of that equipment. It would be pointless to speculate at this stage. On the exit strategy, having succeeded the former Secretary of State for Defence, I come to the House at least with the assurance that nobody can suggest there is a lack of clarity about the communication of the Government’s position, which he explained and repeated on a number of occasions. The response of the Iraqi forces, particularly the army and the police, on Saturday, in very difficult circumstances, is an indication not only of the direction of travel towards that exit, but of the progress that we have made, some of which would have been unthinkable only a matter of months ago.