My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Michael Fallon) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I wish to inform the House of progress in responding to the High Court’s decision in 2013 that a process akin to a Coroner’s inquest be established to examine a...

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Michael Fallon) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I wish to inform the House of progress in responding to the High Court’s decision in 2013 that a process akin to a Coroner’s inquest be established to examine a...

I wish to inform the House of progress in responding to the High Court’s decision in 2013 that a process akin to a Coroner’s inquest be established to examine a small number of fatalities of Iraqi nationals arising from UK operations in Iraq where the deceased person was in the...

I wish to inform the House of progress in responding to the High Court’s decision in 2013 that a process akin to a Coroner’s inquest be established to examine a small number of fatalities of Iraqi nationals arising from UK operations in Iraq where the deceased person was in the...

Lords statement on the 3rd Parachute Regiment court martial judgement.

Lords statement on the 3rd Parachute Regiment court martial judgement.

My Lords, the military justice system does not have jurisdiction over Iraqi citizens so I presume that the witnesses have returned, or will be returning, to Iraq. Further more I cannot comment. As regards the bringing forward of the evidence of those witnesses, the process applied mirrored the principles and...

My Lords, the military justice system does not have jurisdiction over Iraqi citizens so I presume that the witnesses have returned, or will be returning, to Iraq. Further more I cannot comment. As regards the bringing forward of the evidence of those witnesses, the process applied mirrored the principles and...

My Lords, the decision to bring the case was taken by the Army Prosecuting Authority. I say again that the judge, in making his judgment in this case, found that there was no criticism of the decision to bring it forward. In these circumstances, it is important for a case...

My Lords, the decision to bring the case was taken by the Army Prosecuting Authority. I say again that the judge, in making his judgment in this case, found that there was no criticism of the decision to bring it forward. In these circumstances, it is important for a case...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating the Statement. That cannot have been easy for the noble Lord as many aspects of this affair do not fall directly within his remit. I see that the noble and learned Lord the Attorney-General is in his place. We would have expected...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating the Statement. That cannot have been easy for the noble Lord as many aspects of this affair do not fall directly within his remit. I see that the noble and learned Lord the Attorney-General is in his place. We would have expected...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating this important Statement, although I regret that the normal, well oiled machinery that allows us to see it a little before its delivery seems to have gone awry. We support the Government’s position that our services must obey the rule of law,...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating this important Statement, although I regret that the normal, well oiled machinery that allows us to see it a little before its delivery seems to have gone awry. We support the Government’s position that our services must obey the rule of law,...

My Lords, noble Lords made a number of assertions and asked a number of questions which I will collate together to answer. There are some broad themes here that I should address. The Opposition tabled a Question for the Secretary of State for Defence which is why I am repeating...

My Lords, noble Lords made a number of assertions and asked a number of questions which I will collate together to answer. There are some broad themes here that I should address. The Opposition tabled a Question for the Secretary of State for Defence which is why I am repeating...

My Lords, first, I declare an interest, in that I appeared for Private Billy Nirney in this case and I am obviously very much constrained in what I can say about the facts of it. The Minister referred to the fact that it was a hostile and volatile situation for...

My Lords, first, I declare an interest, in that I appeared for Private Billy Nirney in this case and I am obviously very much constrained in what I can say about the facts of it. The Minister referred to the fact that it was a hostile and volatile situation for...

My Lords, the noble Lord makes several points relating to the difficulty of the operational environment that our soldiers face. He is absolutely right to do so. We should not underestimate the challenge that they face. However, we should also note that the view of the judge, taking into account...

My Lords, the noble Lord makes several points relating to the difficulty of the operational environment that our soldiers face. He is absolutely right to do so. We should not underestimate the challenge that they face. However, we should also note that the view of the judge, taking into account...

My Lords, may I apologise for missing the Statement but perhaps I may ask a question based upon what the Judge Advocate General said? I am grateful. Did not the Judge Advocate General say of some witnesses who were some distance away from the scene, as reported by the BBC,...

My Lords, may I apologise for missing the Statement but perhaps I may ask a question based upon what the Judge Advocate General said? I am grateful. Did not the Judge Advocate General say of some witnesses who were some distance away from the scene, as reported by the BBC,...

My Lords, I am not aware of the specific point raised by the noble and learned Lord. However, as I have said, the review into the lessons that need to be learnt as regards the process of investigation in this case will take into account all aspects of that investigation....

My Lords, I am not aware of the specific point raised by the noble and learned Lord. However, as I have said, the review into the lessons that need to be learnt as regards the process of investigation in this case will take into account all aspects of that investigation....

My Lords, I declare an interest having served for a short time of my life with the Parachute Regiment. At the end of this debate, I should like to hear something positive from Her Majesty’s Government. It is quite obvious that the rules of engagement are no longer clear; it...

My Lords, I declare an interest having served for a short time of my life with the Parachute Regiment. At the end of this debate, I should like to hear something positive from Her Majesty’s Government. It is quite obvious that the rules of engagement are no longer clear; it...

My Lords, I cannot accept that summary of situation. That is not the situation which we face. I have spoken to a number of our troops and, frankly, that is not the impression that I get. The rules of engagement are clear. The issues relating to the effect on morale...

My Lords, I cannot accept that summary of situation. That is not the situation which we face. I have spoken to a number of our troops and, frankly, that is not the impression that I get. The rules of engagement are clear. The issues relating to the effect on morale...

My Lords, what will happen to the Iraqis who told those lies? For the sake of natural justice, we have a duty of care to the Army, and when servicemen are put in such a situation by people who prove to be totally unreliable—indeed, lying—witnesses, something should surely be done...

My Lords, what will happen to the Iraqis who told those lies? For the sake of natural justice, we have a duty of care to the Army, and when servicemen are put in such a situation by people who prove to be totally unreliable—indeed, lying—witnesses, something should surely be done...

My Lords, the noble Lord has now said that the Attorney-General was consulted in this case and that his advice was sought by the Army Prosecuting Authority. Is that customary? Does that happen in every case? Or did it happen in this case because it was thought special issues were...

My Lords, the noble Lord has now said that the Attorney-General was consulted in this case and that his advice was sought by the Army Prosecuting Authority. Is that customary? Does that happen in every case? Or did it happen in this case because it was thought special issues were...

My Lords, I should make it clear that the Attorney-General’s advice was not sought. His consent had to be obtained for the prosecution process to be taken forward against those accused who had left the service.

My Lords, I should make it clear that the Attorney-General’s advice was not sought. His consent had to be obtained for the prosecution process to be taken forward against those accused who had left the service.

My Lords, the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police was responsible for the investigation. As to the issues arising from the judgment, we are undertaking the review to understand exactly what lessons can be learnt from this case and to rectify them in the future.

My Lords, the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police was responsible for the investigation. As to the issues arising from the judgment, we are undertaking the review to understand exactly what lessons can be learnt from this case and to rectify them in the future.

My Lords, I have not yet understood who was responsible for evaluating the quality of the material and why they did it so inadequately.

My Lords, I have not yet understood who was responsible for evaluating the quality of the material and why they did it so inadequately.