Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost was of administration and legal fees relating to all civilian harm compensation claims since 2001 in respect of (a) Afghanistan, (b) Iraq and (c) Syria.
In respect of Afghanistan, both the compensation and claimants' legal fees paid by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for unlawful detention and mistreatment claims by Afghan nationals are subject to a confidentiality undertaking between the MOD and the claimants' solicitors and we are unable to disclose the information at this time.
In respect of Iraq, the MOD has previously disclosed that £19.66 million was paid in compensation to an early tranche of claims by Iraqi nationals alleging unlawful detention and mistreatment. Further similar claims and the claimants' legal costs are subject to a confidentiality undertaking and we are unable to disclose the information at this time.
The MOD's legal and administration costs of dealing with these claims are not centrally recorded.
In respect of Syria, no claims have been received.