To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what relationship the US-Iraq high-level working group on security announced in Washington on 28 October will have to the existing Joint Committee on Transfer Security Responsibility; and if she will make a statement; (101964)

The Joint Committee on Transfer Security Responsibility’s job is to conduct the conditions-based assessment for the transition of provincial security responsibility from the Multi-National Force—Iraq (MNF-I) to the Iraqi security force. The High Level Working Group (HLWG) is an additional body, which will be looking at ways to accelerate the pace of training of the Iraqi security forces, Iraqi assumption of command and control over Iraqi forces, and transferring responsibility for security to the Government of Iraq.

The MNF-I, of which the UK is a member, will play a key role in the HLWG and its committees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK Government was invited to make a submission to the Iraq Study Group in the United States. (101392)

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed Iraq with the group via video link on 14 November. Our Ambassador in Washington has also spoken to the Group, as has our Ambassador in Baghdad.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will publish a transcript of the evidence given to the Iraq Study Group in the United States via video-link by the Prime Minister. (101393)

I refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s official spokesman on 14 November 2006. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website at: http://pm.gov.uk/output/Pagel0421.asp. A copy will also be placed in the Library of the House.