To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on operations in Iraq from (a) its annual Delegated Expenditure Limits for resource spending, (b) its annual Delegated Expenditure Limits for capital spending and (c) by drawing down expenditure from HM Treasury's unallocated special reserve in each financial year since 2002-03. (148894)

The net additional costs of operations in Iraq are met from the Treasury's Reserves and not the Department's Expenditure Limits.

The total of the annual audited figures for the costs of operations in Iraq for the years 2002-03 to 2005-06 are as follows:

A total estimated cost of £1,002 million for 2006-07 was included in the Spring Supplementary Estimates published in February. Final figures will be published in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts for 2006-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many detainees were in British custody in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan in each year since 2001, broken down by nationality. (153326)

The MOD publishes monthly internee figures on its website

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/OperationsFactsheets/OperationsInIraqKeyFactsFigures.htm

As at 26 July 2007 there were 88 internees in British custody in Iraq. Since 1 January 2004 records show that the total number of people interned in Iraq by UK forces is 1,536. The number of internees held at any one time varies significantly: since 2004, the number held has generally ranged between 20 and 140. Readily accessible records indicate that there is one dual Iraqi/British national in British custody, and that the remainder are all Iraqi nationals. These records do not include those released or passed to Iraqi custody within eight hours of initial detention.

We do not operate a policy of internment in Afghanistan. However, UK troops occasionally detain suspected criminals for brief periods before passing them on to the Government of Afghanistan. Our records indicate that the number of detainees that have passed through British custody in Afghanistan are:

Readily accessible records indicate that the majority of these are Afghan nationals, but have included a small number of third country nationals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military engineers were deployed to (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan in each year since 2001; and what their primary mission was in each case. (153332)

We deploy British military engineers on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to conduct close engineer support (such as mobility support, counter mobility support, explosive ordnance disposal, boat support, and search) and general engineer support (such as infrastructure development, construction, geographic support, and civil-military cooperation). We cannot provide the total number of engineering personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for each year since 2001 as these records are not held centrally and cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. We can, however, provide the details of the main engineering units deployed to Iraq since 2003 and Afghanistan since 2006. In addition to these units, there are also Royal Navy/Royal Marine, Army and Royal Air Force Engineers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan undertaking maintenance tasks in support of both rotary and fixed wing aircraft and vehicle squadrons.

Engineering units deployed to Iraq

2003

Headquarters Royal Engineers 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division

Elements of Headquarters 12 Engineer Brigade (Air Support)

32 Engineer Regiment

28 Engineer Regiment

36 Engineer Regiment

23 Engineer Regiment

33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)

42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic Support)

64 Works Group Royal Engineers

59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers

Elements of 131 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers (Volunteers)

38 Engineer Regiment Group

Elements of 62 Works Group Royal Engineers

35 Engineer Regiment Group

2004

22 Engineer Regiment Group

21 Engineer Regiment Group

Elements of 63 Works Group Royal Engineers

2005

26 Engineer Regiment Group

32 Engineer Regiment Group

Elements of 64 Works Group Royal Engineers

2006

35 Engineer Regiment Group

38 Engineer Regiment Group

Elements of 63 Works Group Royal Engineers

2007

22 Engineer Regiment Group

Elements of 64 Works Group Royal Engineers

21 Engineer Regiment Group

Elements of 62 Works Group Royal Engineers.

Engineering units deployed to Afghanistan

2006

51 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers

Elements of 49 Field Squadron (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)

Elements of 63 Works Group Royal Engineers

28 Engineer Regiment Group

59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers

2007

26 Engineer Regiment Group

Elements of 64 Works Group Royal Engineers

Elements of 62 Works Group Royal Engineers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what risk assessments have been carried out on (a) RAF and (b) Army accommodation in Basra with particular reference to (i) overhead protection and (ii) protection from shrapnel; what action (A) was taken and (B) is planned as a result; and if he will make a statement. [153460]

There is no distinction made in an operational theatre on the standard of accommodation, or protection afforded to it, on the basis of service.

Commanders in theatre keep all force protection measures including that of accommodation under constant review, against an ever-evolving threat and a number of measures are being developed to further improve protection.

Force protection arrangements in Basra employ multiple layers of defence. This is in addition to operations to disrupt attacks against UK forces and other protective equipment, tactics, techniques and procedures designed to minimise the chance of a successful attack. Details of these measures cannot be released as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of the armed forces.