Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's procedures for investigating alleged civilian deaths following unmanned aerial vehicle strikes in Afghanistan are; and if he will make a statement. [155023]

Mr Robathan, Minister of State for the Armed Forces: There are strict procedures, frequently updated in light of experience, intended to both minimise the risk of casualties occurring and to investigate any incidents that do happen. Any occasion on which a precision-guided weapon is released by an aircraft, whether manned or remotely piloted, is reviewed and where appropriate further investigations are initiated, including all instances in which a possible civilian casualty is reported.

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