HC Deb 26 February 1996 vol 272 cc579-80
32. Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current position with regard to sanctions against Iraq and provision of aid to Iraq. [15269]

Mr. Hanley

The purpose of sanctions is to ensure that Iraq complies with its obligations under relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. There has been some progress, notably in the recognition of Kuwait and UN-demarcated borders. However, I am sorry to say that Iraq remains a long way from compliance. Since 1991, we have given £73 million to the humanitarian effort in Iraq.

Mr. Gapes

If the Government are concerned about the situation in Iraq today, why were they not concerned in the 1980s? Will the Minister give hon. Members an assurance that the Government are not allowing the diversion of aid, aid and trade provision funds or export credit guarantee funds to Jordan which might be used to assist the Saddam regime, as referred to in section E of the Scott report?

Mr. Hanley

Yes, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Stephen

Is it not vital to the interests of this country and to the people of the middle east that neither Iran nor Iraq should ever become powerful enough to overwhelm the other? Were not British trade relations with those two countries managed so as to ensure that neither country was able to dominate that region? Was that not a foreign policy triumph of which the House should be proud?

Mr. Hanley

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for making these comments. However, today I am here to answer questions about the Overseas Development Administration and its role with regard to overseas aid, and I think it will be best if I stick to that subject.

We are conscious of the suffering in Iraq. It is Saddam, not the United Nations, who is responsible. Food and medicines are not subject to sanctions. There is clear evidence that Saddam is using Iraq's foreign currency reserves for military procurement, for ostentatious construction projects and for luxury items for his hangers-on. This underlines the blatant disregard for his people. We will continue to help the people of Iraq—they deserve our help.