Iraq: Sanctions (Hansard, 18 July 1991)

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness)
My Lords, we intend to maintain sanctions against Iraq until all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council have been implemented in full and the people of Iraq, as well as their neighbours, can live without fear of intimidation, repression or attack.

§ Baroness Ewart-Biggs
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. While my Question is certainly not a plea for a relief of pressure on the Iraqi leaders, nevertheless does the Minister not agree that unfortunately sanctions are always most harmful to the most vulnerable? Is he aware of the recent report by two university nutritionists, commissioned by UNICEF, which shows that up to 30 to 40 per cent. of children who have been examined were suffering from extreme wasting caused by malnutrition and disease? What will be the Government's response to the call for action by Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan who is responsible for humanitarian help to Iraq? He has said that urgent action should be taken to enable Iraq to import more food, medicines and other materials that are necessary for the survival of its people. Can he also give the extent of UN humanitarian aid to Iraq at present?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I cannot say what our policy is towards the report by Prince Sadruddin because we are studying it closely at the moment. Indeed, Prince Sadruddin will present his report to the UN Sanctions Committee at the United Nations early 277 next week. As the noble Baroness will be aware, supplies for medical purposes have never been the subject of sanctions.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, I support the general line of the noble Earl's reply. Can he say whether the Government have formed a view on the proposal of Prince Sadruddin on behalf of the United Nations that Iraq should be enabled to sell its oil on the open market?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, that is precisely what will be discussed in the United Nations next week. Prince Sadruddin made two points in his report. One related to the damage to the infrastructure of Iraq and the other to the question of allowing Iraq to sell oil or to release some of its assets in order to purchase more goods for civilian needs. That will be the subject of the discussion.

§ Lord Beloff
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that it is delightful to hear from the Benches opposite that sanctions always hurt the weakest members of the community? They have not taken that view in respect of South Africa. Does he further agree that the solution to the problem is direct humanitarian aid and that any lifting of sanctions would contribute to the threat which Iraq presents to its neighbours and the rest of the world?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I am sure that the whole House took note of my noble friend's very valid first point. Regarding his second point, that is why I said that all the resolutions of the Security Council must be implemented in full so that Iraq as well as its neighbours can live without fear of intimidation, repression or attack.

§ Lord Mellish
My Lords, the Minister will be aware that some of us on this side of the House regard Saddam Hussein and all that he represents with some horror. The atrocities which he has committed are almost unmentionable. Therefore, what will the Government do, in conjunction with the United Nations, to get back some of the untold millions of our money which he owes and which he has around the world? We should find out about that before we talk about sanctions.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, as the noble Lord will be aware, Iraqi assets overseas are frozen and compensation—which is what I understand the noble Lord's question to refer to—is the subject of a Security Council resolution.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, is not the answer to the Minister's noble friend Lord Beloff that the ANC in South Africa asked for sanctions but the people of Iraq did not?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, it was the effect of sanctions rather than who requested them or applied them in the first place which was the point of my noble friend's question.

§ Lord Whaddon
My Lords, will the noble Earl bear in mind the plight of the British subject, Mr. Richter, and ensure that sanctions are not lifted until he is released?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, as I have said before at this Dispatch Box on behalf of the Government, we take Mr. Richter's case most seriously. That is one of the issues which we shall take into consideration.

§ Lady Saltoun of Abernethy
My Lords, do the requirements which must be complied with before sanctions are lifted include ceasing to attempt to manufacture nuclear weapons?

The Earl of Caithness
Yes, my Lords, but not under the sanctions resolution. That issue is covered separately and is being discussed following the recent visit by the UN committee on that problem.

§ Lord Dean of Beswick
My Lords, is the Minister aware that earlier this week President Bush expressed deep concern for the suffering among the poor people of Iraq and that he is searching for a way to deal with that problem without lifting the necessary sanctions? Can the Minister give an undertaking that if a course of action is decided upon, it will have the support of Her Majesty's Government?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, the action will be decided by the UN Sanctions Committee, of which Great Britain is a member. Of course we are appalled by the suffering of those Iraqi people. Their suffering is entirely due to their leadership.