§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2004,Official Report, column 1528W, on Iraq, whether the Government have received further clarification on the investigations by the Pentagon Inspector General into the awarding of contracts for the provision of mobile telecommunications in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.[188338]
§ Mr. Rammell[pursuant to my replies, 15 December 2003, Official Report, c. 734W and 10 March 2004, Official Report, c. 1528W]: Following inquiries by the British embassy in Washington to the United States Department of Defense, the British ambassador has received notification that the two British citizens originally named in my reply of 15 December 2003 are not under investigation by the US Defense Criminal Investigations Service (DCIS) in this regard. We are not aware of investigations into any other British Citizens. The DCIS had previously been looking into allegations concerning the handling by staff of the Coalition Provisional Authority of the award of licences for the provision of mobile telecommunications services in Iraq.
Our position remains that we are aware of no formal or credible allegations against any British citizens in this connection and, specifically, that we have no reason to doubt the integrity of the British citizens involved in the award of these licences.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the process by which voters will be registered for the parliamentary elections in Iraq.[189075]
§ Mr. RammellThe Independent Electoral Commission for Iraq is responsible for producing the electoral role through voter registration. Voter registration forms will be distributed to Iraqis around the country on 1 November enabling voters to register for elections in January 2005.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many voters are registered in Iraq. [189076]
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§ Mr. RammellThe Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq is in the process of taking forward voter registration and the final figure will not be known until shortly before the end of January 2005 when the elections are due.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which body will be in charge of the voter registration process in Iraq. [189077]
§ Mr. RammellThe Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq is responsible for the organisation, oversight and implementation of the elections including the registration of voters.