Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many individual payments the UK has made as a result of (1) civilian death or injury, or (2) property damage, in respect of each overseas operational theatre in which it was engaged since 1 January 2003.

The first payments were made by the Area Claims Office in Iraq in June 2003.

The overseas operational theatres concerned were Iraq and Afghanistan.

There are two categories of claims for compensation - Category 1 those brought before the UK Courts and handled by officials in the MOD and Category 2 those handled by the Area Claims Offices staffed by UK personnel based in the overseas operational theatre.

Iraq

Category 1 - civil litigation

(1) Compensation payments have been made on 738 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.

(2) In terms of property claims, no payments have been made

Category 2 - Area Claims Office - Iraq

Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by staff in the Area Claims Office in Iraq who held the post between 2003 and 2009. Compensation payments have been made on over 1,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.

Afghanistan

Category 1 - civil litigation

(1) Compensation payments have been made on 17 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury.

(2) Compensation payments have been made on 1 individual claim in respect of property damage since 1 January 2003.

Category 2 - Area Claims Office Afghanistan

Information has been extracted from the register that was compiled by the staff in the Area Claims Office in Afghanistan who held the post between 2006 and 2014. Compensation payments have been made on over 4,000 individual claims in respect of civilian death or injury and or property.

In respect of civilian death or injury £27.3 million has been paid relating to claims brought in the UK and £2,245 in respect of property damage claims. These payments include Human Rights Act elements.

Some £7.3 million has been made in ex gratia payments for civilian death or injury and property damage by the Area Claims Offices in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The lowest payment for (a) civilian death or injury is $50 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan and the lowest payment for (b) property damage is $10.27 paid by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.

The highest individual payment for civilian injury or death is £1.5 million and includes ongoing annual periodic payments.

The highest payment for property damage is $232,400 by the Area Claims Office Afghanistan.