asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why there was a delay of more than eight weeks between 13 September and 13 November 2002 in ordering essential sets of enhanced combat body armour for troops deployed to Iraq with the result that 2,200 troops were not fully protected, including Sergeant Steven Roberts. [HL1058]

At that time the United Kingdom was deeply involved in diplomatic activity endeavouring to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Iraq and no decision to commit a UK land force to any potential operation had been taken. The judgment was that to place orders for equipment which would have indicated preparations for the deployment of a large land force would have risked undermining this diplomatic effort. In September 2002, early planning suggested that the number of sets of enhanced combat body armour in stock would be sufficient to equip the fighting elements, of which Sergeant Roberts was part.