To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many complaints of abuse have been made by Iraqi detainees (a) against UK forces and (b) against the Queens Lancashire regiment, excluding those currently under court martial; (109870)

Since the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility was established in December 2003 there have been no deaths or injuries as a result of the actions of UK personnel guarding the facility.

The number of complaints of abuse made by Iraqi detainees is not held centrally. It is Ministry of Defence policy to initiate a service police investigation where there are any grounds to suspect that a criminal act has or might have been committed by service personnel, or where the rules of engagement have been breached. This includes those who work in the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility.

Since operations commenced in 2003, there have been 213 investigations conducted by the Royal Military Police, 195 of which were closed with no further action. 41 investigations related to the death or ill-treatment of Iraqi detainees. Of these, 35 cases have been closed, two cases have been dealt with by courts martial, one case is currently being tried by court martial, one case has been dealt with summarily by the commanding officer and two investigations are ongoing.

There have been two cases against members of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment in addition to that currently under court martial.