Thank you for contacting me about the reports that British soldiers could face prosecution for their activities in the Iraq war.
I am deeply concerned about the reports people are being solicited by British lawyers to make allegations against members of the Armed Forces who served in Iraq. The Al-Sweady Inquiry showed these allegations can often be fabricated and unfounded. These reports are rightly being investigated by the relevant professional bodies.
The MOD established the Iraqi Historical Allegations Team (IHAT) in 2010 to undertake independent investigations into allegations of criminality; it is appropriate that any enquiries should go to them for analysis. In 2014 the Defence Secretary increased the IHAT's budget to £57m, to reflect the increased number of cases.
I believe that the vast majority of UK Service personnel deployed on military operations conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with the law. The MOD takes all allegations of abuse or unlawful killing extremely seriously. That is why the Government is ensuring that they are investigated to establish the facts. The work of the IHAT is funded until the end of 2019.
The Government made a clear manifesto commitment to ensure our Armed Forces are not subject to persistent legal claims that undermine their ability to do their job. It is now working to deliver this. At the end of the day, every false claim diverts defence spending from the front line and hinders our troops' ability to act in difficult operational situations.
