[holding answer 3 March 2009]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary gave on 16 December 2008, Official Report, column 554W to the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell).
We are currently reviewing the available information concerning amputations which have occurred as a result of Op Herrick, while ensuring that patient confidentiality is maintained. I will write to the hon. Member with the results of this review.
Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Andrew Robathan:
The Academic Department of Military Emergency Medicine (ADMEM) at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, has recently begun to collate amputation statistics on a quarterly basis. Their records show that, between 1 April 2006 and 31 march 2009, a total of 51 UK Service personnel have suffered amputations due to injuries sustained while on operation deployment on OP HERRICK. These amputations can range from the loss of part of a finger or toe up to the loss of entire limb(s). There is no consolidated record of the number or nature of the amputations for each patient and that information could only be collated at disproportional cost.
Prior to 1 April 2006, comprehensive records were not held centrally and historic date could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
I hope this provides you with the information you require.
For UK armed forces personnel, standard military investigation procedures would be used to investigate a report that the rules of engagement had been breached. Other nations will have their own procedures which it would not be appropriate to comment on.