§ 26. Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to ensure that the principle of ministerial accountability is upheld. [17288]
§ Mr. RifkindI refer the hon. Lady to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 26 February.
§ Mrs. ClwydAs Scott demonstrated time and again that Ministers were accountable neither to Parliament nor to the British people, will the Minister have a second go at answering the question that I asked him earlier? The United Nations special commission has given the Government details of the British companies that supplied chemical, biological and nuclear warfare components to the Iraqi people. What investigations are the Government undertaking into that information?
§ Mr. RifkindThe hon. Lady's question relates to the prosecutions. She knows that prosecutions are not a matter for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; therefore, she must make inquiries of the relevant authorities.