§ 18. Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received about the position of Kurdish people in Iraq.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe receive regular representations from individuals and organisations about the position of the Kurdish minorities in Iraq. We take every opportunity to make clear to the Iraqi Government at all levels our continuing disquiet at Iraq's human rights record and their treatment of its Kurdish population.
§ Mr. Tim SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom's relations with Iraq.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe attach importance to our bilateral relationship with Iraq and have regular contact with Iraqi Ministers. This allows us to discuss regional issues and to make clear our concerns on such matters as the continuing detention in Iraq of British subjects and reports of Iraqi human rights abuses. We also have important trading links: United Kingdom exports to Iraq in 1989 rose by over 9 per cent. compared with 1988.