§ 18. Mr. DalyellWhat recent representations he has made to the World Health Organisation in relation to Iraq. [29332]
§ Mr. DobsonWe have made no representations recently to the World Health Organisation about Iraq. We welcome and support the humanitarian work that the World Health Organisation is carrying out in Iraq. It is worth noting that, since 1991, the United Kingdom has contributed more than £94 million in humanitarian and medical aid through bilateral and multilateral sources to Iraq, especially northern Iraq, where Saddam Hussein deployed chemical weapons against his own people.
§ Mr. DalyellIs not now the time to help the children of Iraq, particularly in relation to waterborne diseases?
§ Mr. DobsonThe British Government have taken the lead in trying to double the amount of oil that the Iraqis can sell to raise money to provide medicine and medical treatment for their people. It is worth remembering that, although the first United Nations resolution went through in 1995, it was December 1996 before the present Government of Iraq were even willing to go ahead with that resolution, which was intended to make food, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals available to the people of Iraq. If anyone is to blame for those materials and that food not getting through, it is the Government of Iraq, not the Government of Britain or the World Health Organisation.