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Military Action in Iraq

This page lists Parliamentary material on Iraq produced between September 2002 and June 2004.

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Statements & Debates

07 June 2004 cc 21-37 Statement in the House of Commons by Jack Straw, Secretary of State forForeign and Commwealth Affairs, on political and diplomatic developments relating to Iraq.
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords with additional questions.

10 May 2004 cc 21-39 Statement in the House of Commons by Geoffrey Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence, on the treatment of Iraqi prisoners and security in Iraq.

04 May 2004 cc 1211-1222 Statement in the House of Commons by Adam Ingram, Defence Minister, on the treatment of Iraqi prisoners.

19 Apr 2004 cc 21 - 37 Statement in the House of Commons by Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, on Iraq and the Middle East Peace Process.
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords with additional questions.

09 Mar 2004 cc 1399 - 1461 Opposition day debate (Plaid Cymru and Scottish National Party) in the House of Commons on the Attorney-General's Advice on Iraq.

04 Feb 2004 cc 676 - 871 Debate in the House of Commons on Lord Hutton's Report.
04 Feb 2004 cc 684 - 792 Debate in the House of Lords on the Hutton Inquiry.

03 Feb 2004 cc 626 - 643 statement in the House of Commons by Jack Straw, The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on Weapons of Mass Destruction : Intelligence Review Committee.
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

28 Jan 2004 cc 337 - 357 statement in the House of Commons by Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, following Lord Hutton's report into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. David Kelly.

13 Jan 2004 cc 675 - 729 : Opposition day debate (Conservative) National Audit Office Report on Operation Telic.
That this House congratulates Her Majesty's Armed Forces on their outstanding contribution to the success of the Coalition campaign in Iraq; welcomes the positive findings of the National Audit Office Report on Operation TELIC-United Kingdom Military Operations in Iraq; endorses the conclusions and recommendations of that Report, but is gravely concerned about its criticisms of major deficiencies in the supply of vital equipment to UK forces in theatre; deplores the fact that approximately 200,000 sets of enhanced combat body armour issued since 1989 seem to have disappeared and that few troops received their full complement of the extra quantities of clothing and boots ordered from late 2002 onwards; is particularly appalled that there was a 40 per cent. shortfall in tactical nerve-agent detection systems, vital to alert personnel that an attack was underway, and that the operational filters needed to protect Challenger 2 tanks from radiological, chemical and biological attack were not delivered to frontline units until months after the fall of Saddam, given that the Government's casus belli was fear that the Iraqi regime possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) that might be used at short notice; condemns as totally unacceptable the extreme peril to which these supply failures exposed service men and women, because of the perceived WMD danger; and calls upon the Government urgently to address the deficiencies identified in the Report.
Motion defeated on division 202 to 330

11 Dec 2003 cc 1207 - 1221 statement in the House of Commons by Mr. Geoffrey Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence on progress on Defence White Paper/Operations in Iraq.

12 Nov 2003 cc 287 - 303 statement in the House of Commons by Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development, on progress on reconstruction in Iraq.

22 Oct 2003 cc 663 - 754 : Opposition day debate (Conservative) Iraq (Judicial Inquiry)
That this House is concerned at growing public confusion since the summer adjournment as a result of increasingly conflicting accounts of intelligence relating to and events leading up to the recent Iraq war and what has happened since; and calls for the setting up of a comprehensive independent judicial inquiry into the Government's handling of the run-up to the war, of the war itself, and of its aftermath, and into the legal advice which it received.
Motion defeated on division 190 to 303
Government amendment that the proposed words be there added, put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order 31 (Questions on amendments)
Motion agreed on division 293 to 141

10 Sept 2003 cc 393 - 431 : Opposition day debate (Liberal Democrat) Role of the United Nations in Iraq
That this House welcomes the publication of the recent draft resolution of the United Nations Security Council on Iraq; calls upon Her Majesty's Government to honour the Prime Minister's commitment to give the United Nations a vital role in the political and economic reconstruction of Iraq through a new Security Council Resolution which would expedite the restoration of sovereignty and democratic control to the Iraqi people, place the process of political transition under the auspices of the United Nations, transfer the whole responsibility for the economic reconstruction and rebuilding of Iraq to an Iraqi provisional government assisted as necessary by the United Nations and replace existing security arrangements with a multinational force under unified command obliged to report to the Security Council.
Motion defeated on division 53 to 285

09 Sept 2003 cc 190 - 243 : Opposition Day debate (Conservative) on motion:
That this House takes note of the military situation in Iraq.

16 July 2003 cc 287 - 342 : Opposition Day debate (Conservative) on motion:
That this House welcomes the Ninth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee on the Decision to go to war in Iraq, Session 2002-03, HC 813; but notes some reservations by Committee members that it not only had insufficient time but insufficient access to crucial documents to come to comprehensive and definitive conclusions on some of the issues; further notes the recent concerns raised over intelligence material; and calls on the Government to set up a judicial inquiry finally to establish the facts of the matter.
Motion defeated on division 200 to 299

15 July 2003 cc 151 - 171 statement in the House of Commons by Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on Iraq.

07 July 2003 cc42WS Written Ministerial Statement by Geoffrey Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence, on Iraq.

03 July 2003 statement in the House of Lords by Baroness Amos, Secretary of State for International Development, on Iraq (Humanitarian Situation)
The statement was also read out in the House of Commons along with additional questions.

24 June 2003 cc 996 - 1000 statement in the House of Commons by Geoffrey Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence, on Iraq (British Forces).

16 June 2003 cc1WS Written Ministerial Statement by Hilary Benn, Minister of State, Department for International Development, on Iraq (Humanitarian Situation).

04 June 2003, cc180-231, Opposition day debate (Liberal Democrats) on motion:
That this House recalls the Prime Minister's assertion that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction capable of being used at 45 minutes' notice; further recalls the Government's contention that these weapons posed an imminent danger to the United Kingdom and its forces; notes that to date no such weapons have been found; and calls for an independent inquiry into the handling of the intelligence received, its assessment and the decisions made by ministers based upon it.
Motion defeated on division 203 to 301

12 May 2003 cc 21 - 35 statement in the House of Commons by Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on Iraq.
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

12 May 2003 cc 36 -39 Personal statement by Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, following her resignation as a result of government policy over Iraq.

28 April 2003 cc 615 - 633 statement in the House of Commons by Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on the Middle east.
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

14 April 2003 cc 615 - 633 statement by Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, on the conflict in Iraq

10 April 2003 cc 435 - 449 statement in the House of Commons by Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, on the humanitarian situation in Iraq, and the international planning for post-conflict rehabilitation and development.
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

10 April 2003 cc 405 - 421 statement in the House of Commons by Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on Iraq.
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

7 April 2003 cc 22 - 39 statement in the House of Commons by Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence, in respect of military operations in Iraq

3 April 2003 cc 1069 - 1087 statement in the House of Commons by Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence, in respect of military operations in Iraq

3 April 2003 cc 70 - 71 written ministerial statement in the House of Commons by Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on Iraq

26 March 2003 cc 1211 -1222 statement by Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence, in respect of military action in Iraq.
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

24 March 2003 cc 21- 35 statement by Tony Blair, Prime Minister, on the European Council and report on the conflict in Iraq
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

24 March 2003 cc 36- 50 statement by Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, on the humanitarian situation in Iraq and the preparations for reconstruction

21 March 2003 cc 1211 -1222 statement by Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence, in respect of military action in Iraq

20 March 2003 cc 1087 -1100 statement by Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence, in respect of military operations to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction.
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

18 March 2003, cc760-901, Debate on motion:
The debate on Iraq was on a substantive motion, where the house is asked to come to a decision.
Main motion carried on division 412 to 149. Amendment defeated on division 217 to 396

18 March 2003, cc797-799, Personal statement by John Denham, Minister for Police and Crime Reduction, following his resignation as a result of government policy over Iraq.

18 March 2003, cc139-232, Debate in the House of Lords to take note of Her Majesty's Government's policy on Iraq.

17 March 2003, cc703-723, Statement by Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, in respect of Iraq and the debate that will be held in the House on 18th March 2003.

17 March 2003, cc727-729, Personal statement by Robin Cook, Leader of the House and President of the Council (following resignation over the Governments decision to commit Britain to military action in Iraq without international agreement or domestic support

17 March 2003, cc69-96, Legality of war with Iraq: Lords debate on obligations of the UK under International Law concerning the use of armed force.

10 March 2003, cc21-39, Statement by Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, Iraq and Israel/Palestine.
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

26 February 2003, cc265-371, Debate on motion:
That this House takes note of Command Paper Cm 5769 on Iraq; reaffirms its endorsement of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441, as expressed in its Resolution of 25th November 2002; supports the Government's continuing efforts in the United Nations to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction; and calls upon Iraq to recognise this as its final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations.
Motion carried on division 434 to 124.

26th February 2003 - House of Lords Debate on Iraq"

25 February 2003, cc123-140, Statement by Tony Blair, Prime Minister, Iraq (following introduction of new draft resolution to Security Council).
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

13 February 2003, cc1056-72, Statement by Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, Iraq (in advance of Blix/el-Baradei presentation to Security Council).
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

6 February 2003, cc455-66, Statement by Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence, Iraq: further contingency provisions (deployment of air forces).
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

3 February 2003, cc21-38, Statement by Tony Blair, Prime Minister, Iraq (reporting his meeting with President Bush in Washington).
The statement was also read out in the House of Lords along with additional questions.

24 September 2002, cc1-23, Statement by Tony Blair, Prime Minister, on Iraq and Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Division: How did your MP vote?

Find out how your MP voted in the debate on Iraq on 18 March 2003.
Main motion, in support of the Government's policy on Iraq, carried on division 412 to 149.
Amendment defeated on division 217 to 396

Commons divisions on Iraq: 18 March 2003

This standard note analyses the two divisions on 18 March 2003 regarding Iraq. Find out how your MP voted in this debate

Commons divisions on Iraq: 26 February 2003 PDF Document - This standard note analyses the two divisions on 26 February 2003 regarding Iraq. Find out how your MP voted in this previous debate

Select committees: scrutinising the work of Government

Parliament's select committees scrutinise the work of Government. Each of the 19 departmental select committees examines the expenditure, administration and policy of the relevant department and its associated public bodies, such as regulators and quangos. Committees determine their own subjects for inquiry, gather written and oral evidence (and sometimes information from visits in the UK or overseas) and make reports to the House which are printed and published on this website, together with the Government's responses.

The Defence Committee published its report on Lessons of Iraq on 16 March 2004. The Government Response to this report was published on 8 June 2004. Both of these publications are available via the Defence Committee Reports and Publications page of the Defence Committee.

The Defence Committee has announced a new inquiry into British Forces' Role in Iraq. The terms of reference for this Inquiry were set out in the Committee's Press Notice dated 9 June 2004.

The Foreign Affairs Commitee published its report on The Decision to go to War in Iraq on 7 July 2003. This has been followed by two special reports on issues arising from the Decision to go to War in Iraq report: one on the Evidence of Mr Andrew Gilligan to the Committee's Inquiry (21 July 2003) and one on the Implications for the Work of the House and its Committees of the Government's Lack of Co-operation with the Foreign Affairs Committee's Inquiry (18 March 2004).

The Foreign Affairs Committee has also taken evidence and published regular reports on Foreign Policy Aspects of the War Against Terrorism. Those which include material on Iraq include the reports dated 19 December 2002, 31 July 2003, and 2 February 2004.

All of these reports, and the Government responses to them, are available through the Foreign Affairs Committee's Reports and Publications page, via the links to the 2002-03 session and the 2003-04 session.

Please note that the Intelligence and Security Committee reports to the Prime Minister and is staffed by officials from the Cabinet Office. Further information about the Intelligence and Security Committee, including its publications, is available, but be aware that you will be leaving the Parliament website.

The International Development Committee published its report on Preparing for the humanitarian consequences of possible military action against Iraq on 12 March 2003. The Government Response to this report was published on the committee's web pages on 24 March 2003.

The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) published its report Taming the Prerogative: Strengthening Ministerial Accountability to Parliament on 16 March 2004. This Inquiry examined the prerogative that enables governments to take action on a range of fronts without statutory backing or parliamentary approval, including military action.

House of Commons Library Papers:

02 June 2003
Iraq: law of occupation PDF Document
- This Paper discusses some legal issues surrounding the occupation of Iraq during and after Operation Iraqi Freedom in spring 2003. It gives an account of UN Security Council Resolution 1483, of 22 May 2003.

23 May 2003
The Conflict in Iraq PDF Document
- This paper provides a summary of events in the build up to the conflict, a general outline of the main developments during the military campaign between 20 March and mid April 2003 and an initial post-conflict assessment of the conduct of operations.

13 March 2003
Iraq: developments since UN Security Council Resolution 1441 PDF Document
- This Paper outlines the current policy of the UK and the USA concerning Iraq, looks at the United Nations involvement, the progress of inspections and the state of military deployments. It includes information on humanitarian planning, on the means of financing military action and on Iraq's economic and social indicators, including oil production.

25 February 2003
Parliament and the Use of Force PDF Document
- This note addresses the role of Parliament when the British Government decides to use force abroad. It discusses calls for parliamentary involvement through debates on substantive motions relating to such decisions.

21 November 2002
Iraq and UN Security Council Resolution 1441 PDF Document
- This Paper gives an account of the latest developments concerning efforts to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. It discusses Security Council Resolution 1441 and looks at the new mandate for weapons inspectors.

20 September 2002
Iraq: the debate on policy options PDF Document
- This paper examines the ongoing debate about Iraq and the issue of UN weapons inspections. It considers the main events since the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and examines the range of policy options under discussion in the public domain. It analyses the debate surrounding potential military action and the possible legal basis for such action, before concluding with an overview of international attitudes to the current situation.

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Military Action in Iraq

Statements & Debates

Division: How did your MP vote?

Select committees: scrutinising the work of Government

House of Commons Library Papers:

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