Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the government has initiated legal action against any law firms for abuse of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team inquiry.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into two firms - Leigh Day & Co, and Public Interest Lawyers - as a result of concerns about their conduct in the Al-Sweady Inquiry and associated litigation. Among other things, it is investigating how these firms obtain instructions from claimants in Iraq - a matter that is directly relevant to the unprecedented number of allegations with which the Iraq Historic Allegations Team is contending.

The Government welcomes the SRA's decision to refer Leigh Day & Co to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, and awaits its decision with regard to Public Interest Lawyers. We will decide what further action may be appropriate in the light of the results of this process.