Results 1-20 of 562 for iraq speaker:Des Browne

Written Answers — Defence: Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations (29 Sep 2008)

Des Browne: holding answer 17 September 2008 In Iraq, the UK has tactical control of a number of US force elements in the MND(SE) area of operations. These include: 21 Military Police Company; a Military Transition Team embedded with 26 Brigade of the Iraqi Army; a Transition Team embedded with an Iraqi National Police Battalion; a Civil Military Operations Cell; an Explosive Ordnance Detachment; and a...

Written Answers — Defence: Armed Forces: Deployment (29 Sep 2008)

Des Browne: ...been over 100 deployments by UK forces since 1997. These vary in size, for example the current support to the UN Mission in Sudan with only two people up to the deployment of a whole division to Iraq in 2003. Defence planners use the terms large, medium and small to distinguish the scale of putative or generic operations. These are the building blocks which guide the size and shape of our...

Written Ministerial Statements — Defence: Iraq (17 Sep 2008)

Des Browne: The next roulement of UK forces in Iraq, known as Operation Telic 13, will take place from November. The Telic 13 force package will see the lead formation, currently 7 Armoured Brigade, replaced by 20 Armoured Brigade. 20 Armoured Brigade will take over the command of UK forces from early December and will provide the majority of the units serving in Iraq. The forces deploying include...

Written Answers — Defence: Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations (1 Sep 2008)

Des Browne: The flying hours recorded for unmanned aerial vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan are shown as follows. Hermes 450 Reaper Iraq Q3 2007 1,143 — Q4 2007 1,270 — Q1 2008 1,113 — Q2 2008 1,127 — Afghanistan Q3 2007 270 500 Q4 2007 1,351 500 Q1 2008 1,412 500 Q2 2008 1,582 500 The figures shown for Reaper...

Written Answers — Defence: Army Criminal Legal Aid Authority (1 Sep 2008)

Des Browne: No specific issues arose out of the proceedings on the death of Mr. Baha Mousa in Iraq in British custody that indicated the need to change the way in which the Army Criminal Legal Aid Authority (now the Armed Forces Criminal Legal Aid Authority) operates. Separately, a number of changes have been made to the administration of armed forces legal aid to reflect the interim changes to the...

Written Answers — Defence: Iraq: Armed Forces (1 Sep 2008)

Des Browne: UK forces trained and mentored the 10(th) Division of the Iraqi army from the establishment of its Headquarters in Basra in May 2005 until its move to Dhi Qar province in September 2007. Since then, our Coalition partners have performed a residual mentoring role with the 10(th) Division. The appropriate duration and shape of the training and mentoring support that the Coalition provides to...

Written Answers — Defence: Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations (1 Sep 2008)

Des Browne: ...equipment. We have delivered equipment valued at more than £10 billion to the armed forces in the last three years, with over £3.6 billion of Urgent Operational Requirements being approved for Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning of operations, including for vehicles, personal protection and Electronic Counter Measures.

Written Answers — Defence: Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations (1 Sep 2008)

Des Browne: We have always made clear that adjustments to UK force levels in Iraq are made on the basis of progress in fulfilling our main military tasks and the conditions on the ground, and not on arbitrary timetables. As the Prime Minister set out on 22 July 2008, Official Report, columns 662-63, we expect—subject to conditions on the ground—to be able to make the transition to a...

Written Answers — Defence: Armed Forces: Deployment (22 Jul 2008)

Des Browne: ...for medical reasons, the roulement of forces and other factors. Number of personnel deployed by location( 1) Location Number Total 15,970 Of which: Afghanistan(2) 8,000 Iraq(2) 4,300 At Sea 1,660 Kosovo 680 Qatar 410 Cyprus 270 Oman 270 Kuwait 170 Bahrain 100 Bosnia 10 Other 30 (1) Countries with 10 or more personnel are...

Written Answers — Defence: Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations (22 Jul 2008)

Des Browne: The objectives of the Iraq culture brief given to civilians that are to deploy in support of operations in Iraq, is to provide a basic understanding of the main cultural and social conventions of the country. This enables civilians to interact with the local Iraqi population more confidently and successfully if they are called to do so once deployed in theatre. The Iraq culture brief is...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: British Forces (Attacks) (21 Jul 2008) has video

Des Browne: Elements of the Iranian regime provide munitions and training to Shi'a militia in Iraq and arms and funding to the Taliban in Afghanistan. In addition, they fund and assist armed groups in the Lebanon and in the occupied Palestinian territories. That not only poses a threat to British forces serving in operations but destabilises the security of the region. Iran can either act responsibly,...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: British Forces (Attacks) (21 Jul 2008) has video

Des Browne: There is no evidence of such a change having taken place. The hon. Gentleman is right to recall that there has been a decrease in Iran's apparent interference in Iraq's internal affairs, which is a consequence of a number of things, including the effectiveness of Iraqi security forces against those agents and others involved in activity in southern Iraq and the growing strength of the Iraqi...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Helicopters (21 Jul 2008) has video

Des Browne: ...to Chinook and Apache hours; we have deployed upgraded Sea King helicopters there as well, and we are converting eight Chinook helicopters to a support role. The Merlin helicopter is deployed to Iraq; the six additional Merlin aircraft that we procured from Denmark will augment our fleet by 25 per cent.

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Topical Questions (21 Jul 2008) has video

Des Browne: The hon. Gentleman is aware that we have approved more than £3.6 billion of urgent operational requirements for Iraq and Afghanistan, and the majority of those have related to force protection, including the requirement for protected vehicles. From his own experience in the operational theatre and from talking to military commanders, he will be aware of how welcome the Mastiff vehicle,...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Topical Questions (21 Jul 2008) has video

Des Browne: I had the privilege of visiting 4 Mech Brigade twice when it was deployed in Iraq. No words will be sufficient to recognise the contribution that it has made to the improvement in the situation for the Iraqi people, particularly in the city of Basra and the wider province. It is a small thing for those of us in this House to welcome the brigade here, to spend some time with the soldiers and...

Written Answers — Defence: Iraq (21 Jul 2008)

Des Browne: The security situation in Iraq has improved significantly since mid-2007 and, overall, acts of violence have reduced to levels last experienced in 2004. The transfer on 16 July of security responsibility for Qadisiyah province to Provincial Iraqi Control demonstrates the continuing improvement in security across the country. In southern Iraq, UK and coalition forces continue to support the...

Written Answers — Defence: Iraq (21 Jul 2008)

Des Browne: UK force levels in southern Iraq remain at around 4,000, operating in support of the Iraqi Security Forces in Basra. Our military commanders continue to assess the changing situation on the ground and it remains our clear intention to reduce troop numbers as and when conditions allow. The Prime Minister will make a further statement tomorrow, setting out our plans in Iraq.

Written Answers — Defence: Iraq (21 Jul 2008)

Des Browne: We assess that current troop levels in southern Iraq are appropriate to deliver our key military tasks, in particular completing the training and mentoring of the 14th Division of the Iraqi Army. Our military commanders continue to appraise the changing situation on the ground and it remains our clear intention to reduce troop numbers as and when conditions allow. The Prime Minister will make...

Written Answers — Defence: Armed Forces: Deployment (21 Jul 2008)

Des Browne: ...for medical reasons, the roulement of forces and other factors. Number of personnel deployed by location( 1) Location Number Total 14,910 of which: Afghanistan(2) 7,700 Iraq(2) 4,300 At sea 1,170 Kosovo 440 Qatar 410 Cyprus 280 Oman 280 Kuwait 200 Bahrain 70 Yemen 20 Bosnia 10 Other 30 (1) Countries with 10 or more...

Written Ministerial Statements — Defence: Baha Mousa (Public Inquiry) (21 Jul 2008)

Des Browne: In a written statement on 14 May ( Official Report, column 60WS) I announced that there would be a public inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa, who died in Iraq in September 2003 while being detained by British soldiers. The inquiry will be held under the Inquiries Act 2005 and it will be chaired by the Rt Hon. Lord Justice Gage, who is about to retire from the Court of Appeal. Lord Justice...