HC Deb 17 March 1999 vol 327 cc1138-9 4.15 pm
Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Your antennae, ever sensitive to the mood of the House of Commons, will have registered yesterday—not least through the eloquence of the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell), both in The Independent and on the Floor of the House, and of the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames), the former Minister for the Armed Forces—the growing cross-party unease at the daily bombing in Iraq. Have you had any requests from the Ministry of Defence for a statement to give an explanation of why the Syriac Christian community at Aniwa, near Erdbil, was bombed? There is evidence to suggest that there were civilian casualties, although we do not know how many. The House deserves some explanation for the constant bombing, bombing, bombing. To what end?

Madam Speaker

I regret to inform the hon. Gentleman that I have not been informed by any Cabinet Ministers that they are seeking to make a statement on that issue. I have noted the hon. Gentleman's keen interest in the subject over a long time and he has been fortunate in obtaining Adjournment debates on the subject. All credit is due to him for his assiduity in seeking those debates on the issue, and I hope that he will continue to do so.