Only one out of 16 serving and former ministers who have visited Iraq was willing to comment on the plight of the interpreters who are risking their lives to help the British authorities.

The Times asked the politicians, who had been to Iraq on official buiness, whether they had used interpreters and, if so, how important they had been. The 16 were also asked whether they were “comfortable” with how the Government was treating the interpreters and whether they thought Britain’s image might suffer.

Only one, Adam Ingram, the Armed Forces Minister from 2001 to 2007, would speak. He told The Times that Britain could do more for the interpreters. “People took risks, and they were paid well, but I do think there is a sense of duty and responsibility towards them,” he said.

His openness was in contrast to the response of 15 other ministers and former ministers, including Gordon Brown; Geoff Hoon, who was Chief Whip; and Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, who invoked the principle of “collective responsibility” to issue a bland joint reply restating the Government’s position and insisting: “This is a fair and honourable scheme.”

Tony Blair, John Reid, the former Defence Secretary, and the other former ministers also declined to speak up for the Iraqi interpreters.

However, Anne Clwyd, the MP for Cynon Valley, who is not a minister but does serve as the Prime Minister’s special envoy for human rights in Iraq, said that she was concerned at the slow rate at which Iraqi employees and their families were being resettled in Britain.

Only 23 Iraqis and their families have been able to resettle since the start of the resettlement programme, which has been compared unfavoura-bly with similar schemes in the United States, Australia and Denmark.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office said: “The Government respects and values the brave and courageous contribution to the UK effort in Iraq made by its locally engaged staff. We made clear at the outset that . . . no simple solutions were possible. We recognise that many faced serious risks as a result of working for the UK.

“We thought long and hard before coming forward with a fair and balanced scheme last October which reflected our gratitude for their work. Having employed many thousands of Iraqis since 2003, it was impractical for us to help them all.

“We may review specific elements in the light of experience, but overall we believe that this is a fair and honourable scheme.” The ministers and former ministers who refused to comment are Gordon Brown, Geoff Hoon, Jack Straw, Hilary Benn, Baroness Scotland, Des Browne, Bob Ainsworth, David Mili-band, Kim Howells, Douglas Alexan-der, Mike O’Brien, Tony Blair, John Reid, Margaret Beckett and Lord Goldsmith.

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