QUESTIONS are being asked about the company which is carrying out this year's Census after it was revealed it has links to the running of a prison in Iraq.

The decision by the Scottish Government to award CACI Ltd the £18.5m contract to carry out the 2011 Census is being questioned after it was found the organisation's parent company, CACI International provided services to the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad.

According to the website Scotland Against Criminalising Communities (SACC), CACI International is a US-based defence contractor.

SACC reports that from August 2003 until the early autumn of 2005 CACI was contracted to provide interrogation services for the US Army at the prison.

It alleges that while CACI staff were employed as interrogators at Abu Ghraib, prisoners were humiliated and tortured there by US military police.

However, a spokeswoman for CACI told the Reporter that allegations surrounding one of its employees and the mistreatment of a prisoner were unfounded and nobody was ever charged.

She added that the company does not condone illegal behaviour by its employees.

The spokeswoman said: "CACI UK does not provide services to the defence or intelligence sectors. In the UK we remain absolutely committed to providing our government and commercial customers with the very best service.

"The quality and loyalty of our clients reflects the considerable capabilities and professionalism of all our employees." At the full West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) meeting in Dumbarton on Wednesday, Councillor Geoff Calvert put forward a motion for the chief executive to write to MSPs questioning the decision.

It was brought to the attention of Councillor Calvert by Bowling resident Jim Thomson, who is concerned about the link.