British forces in Iraq are to be reduced by about 800 to just over 7,000 personnel in the next few months, Defence Secretary John Reid says. Dr Reid told the House of Commons that the forces could be withdrawn in May because many more Iraqi forces were ready to carry out duties performed until now by British troops. Some 235,000 members of the Iraqi security forces are now trained and equipped with 5,000 more signing up each month, he added. British forces will still control operations for both their own troops and Iraqis for the time being, he said. "But let me stress that the significant reductions I have announced are not part of the handover of security responsibilities to the Iraqis themselves," he said.