Iraq

Mr. Rob Wilson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many mobilised reservists are deployed in Iraq, broken down by service.

Mr. Watson
On 31 May 2006 each service had the following number of reserve personnel serving in the Operation TELIC Joint Operational Area:

------------------------
|               |Number|
------------------------
|Royal Navy     |1     |
------------------------
|Royal Marines  |2     |
------------------------
|Army           |422   |
------------------------
|Royal Air Force|63    |
------------------------

David Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the findings of the investigation into the fatal attack of 13 May on British troops serving in Basra.

Mr. Ingram
The Service Police Report resulting from the Royal Military Police (Special Investigation Branch) investigation into the fatal attack of 13 May on British troops serving in Basra is not yet complete. Service Police Reports are not made public, although they are provided to the relevant Coroner’s Office for use at the inquest.

It has yet to be decided whether a Service Board of Inquiry into this incident will be held. If there is to be a Board of Inquiry, its findings will be made available to the next of kin of the deceased once it is complete.

The Army is in contact with the families of the deceased soldiers and is keeping them informed of developments.