§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a742W statement on the forthcoming visit by the Iraqi-British interest group to Iraq.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe were aware of the possibility but we have no specific details of a forthcoming visit. Before it last visited Iraq in February, the Iraqi British interest group neither sought, nor was given assistance by my Department. Under British legislation, introduced in support of UN sanctions against Iraq, all British companies visiting that country to discuss permissible trade—that is, trade of a humanitarian nature—must first obtain a communications licence.
§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department will give to the Iraqi-British interest group on its forthcoming visit to Iraq.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNone.
§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests for assistance his Department has received from the Iraqi-British interest group for its forthcoming visit to Iraq.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNone.
§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Mr. Riad El Taher about sanctions against Iraq; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe receive regular reports from Mr. El Taher about how he sees the situation in Iraq. Although he clearly has a keen interest in the welfare of the Iraqi people, and wishes to see an early end to UN sanctions, his reports consistently fail to recognise the Iraqi regime's failure to implement all the relevant UN resolutions.
§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations he has carried out into the activities of Dr. Riad El Taher.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe are aware of Dr. El Taher's activities and those of his organisation, "Friendship Across Frontiers", thanks to the numerous reports that we have received from him about Iraq.