Probe into claims MPs were misled

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He spoke out in response to a complaint by the Joint Committee on Human Rights that assurances given to it by armed forces minister Adam Ingram in 2004 and Lt Gen Robin Brims, Commander Field Army in 2006, that hooding and other practices were not used appeared to be false.

The use of "conditioning" techniques, banned during the Northern Ireland troubles in the 1970s, was exposed during inquiries into the death of Iraqi hotel receptionist Baha Mousa who was beaten to death while in the custody of UK forces in 2003.

Seven soldiers were charged over the death but six were acquitted, with the other, Corporal Donald Payne, pleading guilty to inhumane treatment at court martial.

In a report, the committee complained that: "We have yet to receive an explanation from the Ministry of Defence for the discrepancies between the evidence given to the Joint Committee in 2004 and 2006 on the use of prohibited conditioning techniques and the facts which have emerged from the Payne court martial and the Aitken report."

It demanded a "detailed explanation of the discrepancies" be produced as soon as possible after the inquiry.

Mr Browne said: "Last week I announced the terms of reference for the public inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa.

"Those terms of reference are sufficiently broad to enable the inquiry to conduct a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding that death and the committee has acknowledged that many of the concerns it has raised in its report may be investigated by the inquiry.

"We acknowledge that in 2003 some of the conditioning techniques were used on a small number of detainees. This should not have happened and we need to know how it came about. That is why I endorse the terms of the inquiry wholeheartedly.

"The MoD and the Army will continue to work fully with both the committee and the chairman of the inquiry. However, it is not possible for us to comment further on issues or events likely to be investigated under the inquiry, including past evidence given to the committee, until the inquiry has concluded. The committee recognises this and we will respond in full when we are able to do so."