Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Baker presses government to introduce code of conduct for private security firms
Local Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, speaking on the floor of the Commons, yesterday called on the Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne MP, to introduce strict controls on the activities of private military companies in Iraq.
Here is the full the full text of Norman’s exchange with the Secretary of State:
Norman Baker (Lewes) (LD): What his policy is on employing private security personnel in Iraq? [136574]
The Secretary of State for Defence (Des Browne): Government policy is to decide on a case-by-case basis whether or not to employ private military and security companies, which already have a significant role in Iraq. For example, much of the progress in building civilian security capacity has been achieved through the work of the UK civilian policing mission to Iraq, including trainers and mentors who are employed by ArmorGroup. A review of private military and security policy is under way.
Norman Baker: The Secretary of State knows that War on Want estimates that 48,000 employees who work for almost 200 different companies are now in Iraq, making them the second-largest occupying force after the United States. He may also know that there have been allegations of human rights abuses by some of those companies. Why have not the Government’s intentions, which are stated in the 2002 Green Paper, to introduce legislation to control those companies, been implemented? We have waited five years for that.
Des Browne: The hon. Gentleman is right to identify the significant contribution that private military and security companies make, particularly in Iraq, where they are ever-present. Given the nature of the conflict in Iraq, even the green zone could be considered part of the battle space and those companies are there in significant numbers, and therein lies the answer to his second question. That was not the case in 2002, but since then, the proliferation of private military and security companies—not contracted by this Government, I should say, but by many other Governments—into the battle space where we deploy in coalition has greatly complicated the circumstances. We are presently looking at the nature of any regulation that we might need to bring in, which was anticipated in the Green Paper and subsequent discussion. It is a complex issue, so when we legislate, we will need to get it right. Consideration is going on across the relevant Departments at the moment.
Speaking after the debate Norman Baker said
"I cautiously welcome the Minister’s response. I was glad to hear that the government is currently looking at bringing in some form of regulation of private security firms operating in Iraq.
"However, the government must act quickly to introduce legislation to this effect. It has now been five years since the Green Paper, which promised a code of conduct, was published. The longer that the government allows the current situation to stand, the longer private security companies will be allowed to operate with little or no accountability."