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Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Volume 502: debated on Monday 7 December 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many commercial (a) aeroplanes and (b) ships were hired to assist with the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq; and at what cost. (304364)

A total of 62 commercial passenger aircraft flights were chartered to assist the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq between 19 April and 31 August 2009. The cost of these flights was £6.11 million.

A total of 29 commercial freight aircraft flights were chartered to assist the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq between 19 April and 31 August 2009. The cost of these flights was £1.77 million.

No ships were hired specifically to assist with the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq and there were no costs in this area. The majority of equipment, vehicles and stores were withdrawn from Iraq on five sailings using the ro-ro ships operated by Foreland on behalf of the MOD under the 25-year private finance initiative arrangement entered into in 1999. A limited quantity of equipment was transported back to the United Kingdom in containers under normal commercial arrangements with contractors using commercially scheduled sailings.