Iraq (Hansard, 5 March 1996)

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring of food and humanitarian aid by British or multilateral agencies has taken place in Iraq. [19059]

§ Mr. Hanley
Food and humanitarian aid is monitored by the Overseas Development Administration through visits to northern Iraq and through regular reporting by non-governmental organisations and multilateral agencies working in Iraq. The ODA also funds monitoring of multilateral water and sanitation projects in Baghdad-controlled Iraq.
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§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of sanctions on the health of the population of Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [19058]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
Food and medicines are exempt from sanctions. However, Saddam Hussein's refusal either to comply with the requirements of relevant UN Security Council resolutions or to spend enough of the regime's resources on humanitarian supplies has caused much suffering in Iraq. He has also so far refused to implement UN Security Council resolution 986, which would allow the sale of Iraqi oil for humanitarian supplies, bringing much-needed relief to millions of Iraqis. Since 1991, we have provided £73 million of humanitarian aid to Iraq.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current value of Iraqi assets frozen in Britain; what the value was in 1991; and if he will make a statement. [19110]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
The value of Iraqi assets on 1 January 1991 was US$1,363 million. The value at the end of September 1995, the latest figures available, was US$769 million. The figures for the value of Iraqi deposits in UK banks include private as well as Iraqi Government assets. Iraqi assets are frozen under the provisions of UN Security Council resolution 661, which was adopted on 6 August 1990.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts have been established with representatives of parties in northern Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [19057]

Mr. Davis
We maintain regular contacts with all the main parties in northern Iraq. We welcome the continuing ceasefire between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdish Democratic party, and support efforts to achieve a lasting agreement that has the backing of the parties in northern Iraq.