The Opposition has rounded on Tony Blair and his ministers for failing to visit soldiers wounded in Iraq and repatriated for medical treatment.

Patrick Mercer, a Conservative defence spokesman, said he was astonished that ministers had not made frequent visits to the Royal Centre of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak, in Birmingham, where injured soldiers are taken. 

The Liberal Democrats also demanded an urgent statement to be made by Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary.

But Michael Martin, the speaker, turned them down.