§ 10. Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of children under the age of five in Iraq who are likely to die of starvation or disease in the absence of additional humanitarian assistance.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe report of the latest United Nations mission to Iraq estimates that 300,000 children below the age of six are malnourished. We have repeatedly stated that we have no quarrel with the Iraqi population. It is, however, the responsibility of the Iraqi regime to co-operate fully with the United Nations and thereby ensure that relief is brought to those in need.
§ Mr. StrangBut surely the Government are not going to turn their back on the dying children in Iraq? The Minister and his right hon. Friend are humane men and they well know that the British Government have United Nations authority to unfreeze Iraqi assets in this country. Why do they not do so and establish with the United Nations agencies on the ground in Iraq a mechanism to ensure that the money is used to avoid human starvation, suffering and death?
§ Mr. HoggThere are two issues wrapped in that question. The first is that of Iraqi assets in United Kingdom jurisdiction. We have made it plain that while Mr. Richter is held in custody in Baghdad we can not agree to a release of the assets held in the United Kingdom. As 1154 for the report of Prince Sadruddin, he is recommending that there be a sale of oil under the provisions of article 23 of resolution 687. We shall reflect on that.
There are two important points to be dealt with: first, that the money goes into a United Nations account and is disbursed in accordance with the wishes of the Security Council and, secondly, that if food is purchased it is distributed in an even-handed way. We shall come to a final conclusion when we determine whether those specific provisos are capable of being met.
§ Mr. Ian TaylorWill my hon. and learned Friend remind the House that if there is any suffering among the children in Iraq it is because of the brutality of Saddam Hussein and his complete insensitivity to the well-being of his people? If there were to be any arrangement which would allow the Iraqis to purchase foodstuffs and other supplies for their people, could my hon. and learned Friend assure the House that it would be done within the organisation of the United Nations so that no money purported to be destined for the children gets into Saddam Hussein's hands?
§ Mr. HoggMy hon. Friend makes an important point. We have quite a lot of evidence about the state of affairs in Iraq, and I can tell the House that one group of people that is not suffering from malnutrition is Saddam Hussein and the Ba'ath party. Privation is focused on the ordinary people of Iraq. Resolution 687 relaxed restrictions on the import of food, humanitarian necessities and medicines —which were never covered by the sanction regime. It is important to ensure that if oil is sold moneys thus released are used only for purposes of humanitarian relief and, to some extent, for other approved purposes, such as the special commission, the demarcation commission and the compensation fund.
§ Mr. SillarsHow long will the United Kingdom take to reflect on the sale of oil, bearing in mind that every day probably costs the lives not only of children but of men and women as well? What is the position of other members of the Security Council on this period of reflection?