Iraq could soon be ready for the complete withdrawal of British Forces, a senior British army commander said yesterday.

Brigadier Julian Free said that security in the country had “transformed” as he led the 4th Mechanised Brigade on a homecoming march to the Houses of Parliament.

He said: “Security there has taken a massive turn for the better. The Iraq Army have helped us along.”

Asked if he thought that British troops could pull out soon, he added: “It will be a smooth and steady programme. The Iraqis are keen to do more for themselves and I think they will soon be in a position when they can take over.”

The brigadier's comments come as Gordon Brown is set to make a statement today to the Commons updating MPs on British commitment in Iraq.

Mr Brown, who visited Iraq last weekend and told troops that they were on their last leg of duty, has said that he does not want to give an artificial timetable for the withdrawal of forces.

Senior commanders have given warning that the intensity of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, running simultaneously, has created unique pressures for the Armed Forces, especially at a time when all three Services have been reduced significantly in size.

The last time the Prime Minister tried to cut the troop numbers by about half, to 2,500, circumstances compelled him to change his mind — although an Iraqi offensive in March has transformed the security situation.

Mr Brown will be given a boost by a report from the House of Commons Select Committee that has returned recently from Basra and said that the security situation was “a world away” from conditions the year before.

“Basra has been transformed in the past six months and the UK is helping the Iraqi security forces become self-sufficient and effective,” it said.

Echoing comments from Mr Brown, the committee said that the Iraqi forces had restored law and order to many parts of the city, although it emphasised that British Forces needed “continuing commitment” to maintain a training presence in Iraq.

More than 120 representatives from the 4th Mechanised Brigade marched from Wellington Barracks for a reception with MPs.

The brigade oversaw the handover of Basra's security to the Iraqis and helped to train the Iraqi Army.

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