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Harvey, Nick
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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how his Department plans to respond to Iraq's statement at the First Assembly of the UN General Assembly, requesting help from the international community for research into and decontamination of depleted uranium.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how his Department plans to respond to Iraq's statement at the First Assembly of the UN General Assembly, requesting help from the international community for research into and decontamination of depleted uranium.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Tobias Ellwood
(Conservative)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 October 2014
For answer on
30 October 2014
Answered on
3 November 2014
We are aware of the request made by the Government of Iraq during its statement to the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October for Member States and relevant international organisations to conduct research into the impact of exposure to depleted uranium (DU) ammunition on human health and the environment and possible methods of treatment. We are conscious that some nations, international organisations and individuals are concerned that there may be a link between the use of DU ammunition and certain medical conditions. This is an issue taken very seriously by the Government. Scientific literature, including that of the Royal Society, the European Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Health Organisation, contains a substantial number of reports which indicate that DU has not been shown to have, and indeed is very unlikely to have, any significant impact on the health of the local population or on the veterans of conflicts in which these munitions are used.
Subjects
Iraq; Depleted uranium
Date
3 November 2014
Reference
212280
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of his Department's staff deployed in each region of Iraq (a) have been trained in each year since 2003 and (b) are being trained in each local Iraqi language.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of his Department's staff deployed in each region of Iraq (a) have been trained in each year since 2003 and (b) are being trained in each local Iraqi language.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Chris Bryant
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
29 June 2009
For answer on
1 July 2009
Answered on
9 July 2009
Since 2004, 58 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff have studied Modern Standard Arabic and one Sorani Kurdish before being deployed in Iraq. Currently mere are eight staff studying Modern Standard Arabic who are due to be deployed to Iraq later this year or next. Since 2004, 323 FCO civil servants have been deployed to Iraq. There are currently 35 staff there.We only started to hold management information about language skills centrally in 2004. Our system records those who have passed exams on completion of language courses funded by the FCO, so may not include those who did not take an examination, those whose acquisition of the language was not the result of class-based instruction, or whose studies were not funded by the FCO.
Subjects
Iraq; Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Date
9 July 2009
Reference
495 c948W; 283552
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces deployed in each region of Iraq (a) have been trained in each year since 2003 and (b) are being trained in each local Iraqi language.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces deployed in each region of Iraq (a) have been trained in each year since 2003 and (b) are being trained in each local Iraqi language.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Bill Rammell
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
29 June 2009
For answer on
1 July 2009
Answered on
7 July 2009
Arabic is the most widely spoken language in Iraq. Apart from Arabic, a number of minority languages are spoken in Iraq. The only language group with a population over 1 million is Kurdish, in its various forms, and the only other language groups with a population over 100,000 are Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, Azeri and Farsi.The following table reflects the numbers of personnel trained in Arabic since 2003. Defence has not trained personnel in Kurdish. While Defence has a Farsi capability, no personnel have been trained in Farsi specifically for operations in Iraq, and neither Chaldean Neo-Aramic nor Azeri has ever been required in an Operation Telic context.The following table provides the available figures for training in Arabic.
The above figures do not include figures for the special forces, and do not include personnel who have left the services since their language training and whose details are no longer available. The figures for 2009 are to date and do not include expected outputs for the remainder of the year.Entries are made against the year when qualifications were achieved. SLP levels can be defined as follows: SLP 1—Survival, SLP 2—Functional, SLP 3—Professional and SLP 4—Expert. Qualifications in speaking and listening skills have been used to determine the SLP level against which personnel are listed.The figures do not include personnel who received SLP 1 level training but were either not examined or did not pass the exam at this level. It is estimated that up to 200 personnel fall into this category.The figures do not reflect the very basic Arabic language training provided to all deploying personnel. During pre-deployment training, they have received some instruction in greetings and responses, words and phrases, and have been issued with a language aide-mémoire to enable basic communication.
| Arabic | SLP1 | SLP2 | SLP3 | SLP4 | Total |
| 2009 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2008 | 16 | 37 | 13 | 4 | 70 |
| 2007 | 67 | 88 | 26 | 5 | 186 |
| 2006 | 38 | 38 | 20 | 4 | 100 |
| 2005 | 40 | 16 | 19 | 3 | 78 |
| 2004 | 10 | 10 | 19 | 1 | 40 |
| 2003 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 20 |
| Total | 173 | 195 | 113 | 17 | 498 |
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations
Date
7 July 2009
Reference
495 c660-1W; 283555
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many members of his Department's staff deployed in each region of Iraq (a) have been trained in each year since 2001 and (b) are being trained in each local Iraqi language.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many members of his Department's staff deployed in each region of Iraq (a) have been trained in each year since 2001 and (b) are being trained in each local Iraqi language.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Michael John Foster
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
29 June 2009
For answer on
1 July 2009
Answered on
7 July 2009
Records of language training carried out since 2001 have not been retained. Currently two Department for International Development (DFID) officials in Baghdad are taking part-time Arabic language classes.There are also three Arabic-speaking Iraqi nationals working for DFID in Baghdad. In Basra, DFID employs two Arabic-speaking Iraqi nationals, and one further is being recruited.DFID has employed over 40 Arabic-speaking Iraqi nationals in Iraq since 2001.
Subjects
Department for International Development; Iraq
Date
7 July 2009
Reference
495 c648W; 283521
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers of each rank have served in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan in each year since 2003.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers of each rank have served in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan in each year since 2003.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 February 2009
For answer on
24 February 2009
Answered on
3 March 2009
Data on the numbers of officers who have served in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan in each year during the period 2003-07, broken down by rank are not held centrally in individual level databases and as such could only be provided a disproportionate cost.Due to ongoing validation of data from the joint personnel administration (JPA) system, data on the numbers of officers who have served in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan in 2008, broken down by rank are not available and as such could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan
Date
3 March 2009
Reference
488 c1430W; 258432
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the standard rifle used by (a) the Royal Marine Commando, (b) each UK special force and (c) each other UK service is in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the standard rifle used by (a) the Royal Marine Commando, (b) each UK special force and (c) each other UK service is in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 February 2009
For answer on
24 February 2009
Answered on
27 February 2009
The standard rifle used by all UK forces, excluding Special Forces, is the SA80 A2. It is the policy of this Department not to comment on matters relating to UK Special Forces.
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan
Date
27 February 2009
Reference
488 c1139W; 258316
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel in each service he expects to remain in Iraq following the completion of Operation Archive.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel in each service he expects to remain in Iraq following the completion of Operation Archive.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
12 December 2008
For answer on
16 December 2008
Answered on
14 January 2009
As the Prime Minister set out on 18 December 2008, Official Report, columns 1233-35, we will complete our remaining military tasks in Iraq by 31 May 2009 and move to a normal bilateral defence relationship. The subsequent withdrawal of our forces will be complete by 31 July. As part of the future relationship, the Government of Iraq have indicated that they would like to continue to receive military training and education from the UK. We will shortly begin discussions to establish the precise scope of this training and education, which will inform the number and breakdown by service of any UK service personnel in Iraq after 31 July. Our current assumption is that this activity would involve around 400 UK service personnel.Operation Archive is not concerned with the overall withdrawal of UK forces by 31 July 2009. Rather, it is the name given to the periodic removal from Iraq of equipment no longer required by UK forces.
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations
Date
14 January 2009
Reference
486 c739W; 244623
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment he plans to gift to Iraq once Operation Archive is under way.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment he plans to gift to Iraq once Operation Archive is under way.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
12 December 2008
For answer on
16 December 2008
Answered on
12 January 2009
As the Prime Minister said in his statement to the House on 18 December, we plan to reduce force levels in Iraq as we complete our remaining key tasks in Basra in the early months of next year. Planning for the withdrawal of UK forces continues and any proposal to gift equipment to Iraq would follow established procedures.
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations
Date
12 January 2009
Reference
486 c102-3W; 244622
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many service personnel have been diagnosed with (a) heatstroke and (b) other heat-related illness in Iraq since 2003;
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many service personnel have been diagnosed with (a) heatstroke and (b) other heat-related illness in Iraq since 2003;
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Beamish
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
4 June 2008
For answer on
6 June 2008
Answered on
27 October 2008
The Ministry of Defence records instances of heat illness, as part of its monitoring of climatic injury. Heat illness has traditionally been divided into heat exhaustion and heat stroke, but in practice it is difficult to define the division between the two. Heat illness is therefore used to cover a continuum of illness ranging from mild symptoms such as muscular weakness, headache and excess fatigue to more serious outcomes such as collapse, coma and death.The following table shows the instances of heat illness that have required attendance at a Field Hospital for Operation Telic since 2003 and Operation Herrick since reporting began in August 2006:
This table updates the figures for 2006 and 2007 given in a previous answer to a question on heat related illness—21 April 2008, Official Report, column 1637W. Both sets of figures were provided by Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA); however the numbers in the earlier answer were based on field hospital admissions records. The data in this answer have been extracted from the Operational Emergency Department Attendance register (OpEDAR). As OpEDAR covers all attendances, regardless of whether they are admitted, DASA has advised that it provides a more comprehensive figure for heat illness.These figures provide an indication of instances of heat illness. It is likely that there have been other cases of heat injury which could not be identifed from the available records as they may have been recorded under a variety of symptoms (e.g. dehydration, headache etc.) common to other illnesses. In Iraq, the temperature and humidity can change very quickly, increasing the likelihood of sudden instances of heat illness.Various steps are taken to prevent heat related illnesses. Commanders are provided with heat illness prevention instructions in order to monitor heat stress. Temperature and humidity levels are forecast daily as part of standard operating procedures thereby allowing commanders to schedule workloads accordingly. Where operationally feasible, although clearly this will not be possible in every single location, air conditioning is used in accommodation, business offices and facilities such as welfare, catering and medical facilities in the main camps in operational theatres. Canteen areas have large fridges which are stocked with a plentiful supply of cold water.
| Operation Telic | Operation Herrick | |
| 2003 | 804 | n/a |
| 2004 | 130 | n/a |
| 2005 | 62 | n/a |
| 2006 | 99 | ¹19 |
| 2007 | 107 | 62 |
| 2008² | 2 | 5 |
| ¹ Data collection did not begin in Afghanistan until August 2006. ² 1 January to 31 March 2008. |
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations
Date
27 October 2008
Reference
481 c640-1W; 209647
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Mastiff vehicles have been blown up in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan since 2003; and what the date was of each incident.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Mastiff vehicles have been blown up in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan since 2003; and what the date was of each incident.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Browne of Ladyton
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 July 2008
For answer on
10 July 2008
Answered on
1 September 2008
I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan
Date
1 September 2008
Reference
218445; 479 c1466W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how long it took to train and mentor the 10th division of the Iraqi army;
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how long it took to train and mentor the 10th division of the Iraqi army;
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Browne of Ladyton
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 July 2008
For answer on
21 July 2008
Answered on
1 September 2008
UK forces trained and mentored the 10th Division of the Iraqi army from the establishment of its Headquarters in Basra in May 2005 until its move to Dhi Qar province in September 2007. Since then, our Coalition partners have performed a residual mentoring role with the 10th Division.The appropriate duration and shape of the training and mentoring support that the Coalition provides to the Iraqi army is determined by a range of factors specific to each Division. These factors include the previous military experience of the Division’s recruits, the timing of the Division’s formation, the security challenges it faces and the availability of equipment. The Coalition does not therefore seek to calculate an average period for the full training and mentoring of Iraqi army Divisions.As the Prime Minister said in his statement on 22 July 2008, Official Report, columns 660-3, subject to conditions on the ground, our military commanders expect the 14th Division in Basra to be fully trained during the first months of next year. On completion of our remaining military tasks in Basra, we aim to make the transition to a long term bilateral relationship with Iraq, the details of which we will be discussing with the Government of Iraq over the coming months.
Subjects
Armed forces; Iraq; Military aid
Date
1 September 2008
Reference
220316; 479 c1466W
House
House of Commons
(2) how long on average it has taken to train and mentor each division of the Iraqi army;
(2) how long on average it has taken to train and mentor each division of the Iraqi army;
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Browne of Ladyton
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 July 2008
For answer on
21 July 2008
Answered on
1 September 2008
UK forces trained and mentored the 10th Division of the Iraqi army from the establishment of its Headquarters in Basra in May 2005 until its move to Dhi Qar province in September 2007. Since then, our Coalition partners have performed a residual mentoring role with the 10th Division.The appropriate duration and shape of the training and mentoring support that the Coalition provides to the Iraqi army is determined by a range of factors specific to each Division. These factors include the previous military experience of the Division’s recruits, the timing of the Division’s formation, the security challenges it faces and the availability of equipment. The Coalition does not therefore seek to calculate an average period for the full training and mentoring of Iraqi army Divisions.As the Prime Minister said in his statement on 22 July 2008, Official Report, columns 660-3, subject to conditions on the ground, our military commanders expect the 14th Division in Basra to be fully trained during the first months of next year. On completion of our remaining military tasks in Basra, we aim to make the transition to a long term bilateral relationship with Iraq, the details of which we will be discussing with the Government of Iraq over the coming months.
Subjects
Armed forces; Iraq; Military aid
Date
1 September 2008
Reference
220317; 479 c1466W
House
House of Commons
(3) how long he estimates it will take to complete (a) training and (b) mentoring of the 14th division of the Iraqi army.
(3) how long he estimates it will take to complete (a) training and (b) mentoring of the 14th division of the Iraqi army.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Browne of Ladyton
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 July 2008
For answer on
21 July 2008
Answered on
1 September 2008
UK forces trained and mentored the 10th Division of the Iraqi army from the establishment of its Headquarters in Basra in May 2005 until its move to Dhi Qar province in September 2007. Since then, our Coalition partners have performed a residual mentoring role with the 10th Division.The appropriate duration and shape of the training and mentoring support that the Coalition provides to the Iraqi army is determined by a range of factors specific to each Division. These factors include the previous military experience of the Division’s recruits, the timing of the Division’s formation, the security challenges it faces and the availability of equipment. The Coalition does not therefore seek to calculate an average period for the full training and mentoring of Iraqi army Divisions.As the Prime Minister said in his statement on 22 July 2008, Official Report, columns 660-3, subject to conditions on the ground, our military commanders expect the 14th Division in Basra to be fully trained during the first months of next year. On completion of our remaining military tasks in Basra, we aim to make the transition to a long term bilateral relationship with Iraq, the details of which we will be discussing with the Government of Iraq over the coming months.
Subjects
Armed forces; Iraq; Military aid
Date
1 September 2008
Reference
220318; 479 c1466W
House
House of Commons
Given the shortage of military helicopters, why have the Government decided to withdraw the Gazelle helicopter from service some nine years before its planned out-of-service date in 2018? According to answers that the Secretary of State has given me within the past few months, it has clearly proved the most reliable of all our military helicopters. In view of the essential part that it plays in our national security strategy, is there not a danger that more pressure will be put on the helicopters that we need in Afghanistan and Iraq—although the Gazelle has not been used in Iraq since the early days? Will not its withdrawal leave a gap in our helicopter capacity, and how will the Secretary of State fill that gap without putting more pressure on our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq?...
I never said it was
Given the shortage of military helicopters, why have the Government decided to withdraw the Gazelle helicopter from service some nine years before its planned out-of-service date in 2018? According to answers that the Secretary of State has given me within the past few months, it has clearly proved the most reliable of all our military helicopters. In view of the essential part that it plays in our national security strategy, is there not a danger that more pressure will be put on the helicopters that we need in Afghanistan and Iraq—although the Gazelle has not been used in Iraq since the early days? Will not its withdrawal leave a gap in our helicopter capacity, and how will the Secretary of State fill that gap without putting more pressure on our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq?...
I never said it was
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
21 July 2008
Thankfully, the answer to the hon. Gentleman's lengthy question is quite short. According to military advice, which I have accepted, the Gazelle is not deployable in either of those theatres...
The fact that we cannot deploy it explains why it would not address our shortage in those theatres.
Subjects
Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan; Iraq; Helicopters; Military aircraft
Date
21 July 2008
Reference
479 c514-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Snatch Landrovers have been blown up in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan since 2003; and what the date of each incident was.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Snatch Landrovers have been blown up in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan since 2003; and what the date of each incident was.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Browne of Ladyton
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 July 2008
For answer on
10 July 2008
Answered on
21 July 2008
I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan
Date
21 July 2008
Reference
479 c846-7W;479 c844-5W; 218443
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hercules flights there have been between Iraq and Afghanistan in each of the last three years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hercules flights there have been between Iraq and Afghanistan in each of the last three years.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 July 2008
For answer on
10 July 2008
Answered on
15 July 2008
We do not run a regular schedule of C130 Hercules flights between Iraq and Afghanistan. Statistics on those flights which have taken place are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan
Date
15 July 2008
Reference
218488; 479 c306W;479 c304W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contact lens infections have been reported in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan amongst armed forces personnel since 2003 in each country.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contact lens infections have been reported in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan amongst armed forces personnel since 2003 in each country.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Derek Twigg
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 July 2008
For answer on
10 July 2008
Answered on
14 July 2008
The following numbers are recorded as having been aeromedically transferred to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak with contact lens related ulcers:
There may also have been a small number of cases treated successfully in-theatre. Details will be recorded on the individuals' personal medical files, but are not recorded centrally.
| Theatre | Time period | Number of cases |
| Iraq | 1 January 2003 to 9 July 2008 | 24 |
| Afghanistan | 1 January 2003 to 9 July 2008 | <5 |
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan
Date
14 July 2008
Reference
218455; 479 c171-2W;479 c169-70W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often armoured vehicles have been penetrated by insurgent ordnance in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often armoured vehicles have been penetrated by insurgent ordnance in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Browne of Ladyton
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 July 2008
For answer on
10 July 2008
Answered on
14 July 2008
I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan
Date
14 July 2008
Reference
218446; 479 c171W;479 c169W
House
House of Commons
Can the Secretary of State cast any light on the BBC reports of a week or so ago that by the end of the year the Government would be in a position to announce a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq? We have heard President Bush warn against it, but yesterday the Foreign Secretary said in a BBC interview:"““We have to complete what we have started and the priority… was the training of the 14th Division around Basra.””"
What is the Government's estimate of the time scale for completion of that work? Are there any other specific projects that we ““have to complete”” before we have concluded our task? Will we be in a position to tell a new United States President next January that the sustainability of our long-term commitment in Afghanistan necessitates a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq?
Can the Secretary of State cast any light on the BBC reports of a week or so ago that by the end of the year the Government would be in a position to announce a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq? We have heard President Bush warn against it, but yesterday the Foreign Secretary said in a BBC interview:"““We have to complete what we have started and the priority… was the training of the 14th Division around Basra.””"
What is the Government's estimate of the time scale for completion of that work? Are there any other specific projects that we ““have to complete”” before we have concluded our task? Will we be in a position to tell a new United States President next January that the sustainability of our long-term commitment in Afghanistan necessitates a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq?
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Topical questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
16 June 2008
The hon. Gentleman—understandably—raises this issue regularly at Question Time and during debates, and I think that I consistently give him the same answer: that decisions about the level of our forces in Iraq will depend on military advice, which in turn will reflect the conditions. As he knows, during my time as Secretary of State the number of our troops in Iraq has roughly halved, which reflects the changing conditions.
We have set ourselves a number of tasks. At the end of the day, we will make a decision on whether the Iraqi security forces are sufficiently trained to be able to hold and sustain the security that we, along with other allies, have helped them to create. The hon. Gentleman and the House can rest assured that when that day comes, I or another member of the Government will come here and tell the House, not the BBC.
Subjects
Deployment; Iraq; Peacekeeping operations
Date
16 June 2008
Reference
477 c669
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fatalities of service personnel in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan have been as a result of (i) heatstroke and (ii) other heat-related illness.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fatalities of service personnel in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan have been as a result of (i) heatstroke and (ii) other heat-related illness.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Derek Twigg
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
4 June 2008
For answer on
6 June 2008
Answered on
12 June 2008
Since 2003, coroners' inquests to date have found that two service personnel have died as a result of heat related conditions while serving in Iraq. There have been no heat related fatalities in Afghanistan. Additionally, one heat related fatality was recorded in Oman, in 2003, during Exercise Saif Sarea.
Subjects
Iraq; Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan
Date
12 June 2008
Reference
477 c423W; 209649
House
House of Commons