§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their current estimate of the public expenditure required by the United Kingdom by way of contribution to the costs of the removal by armed intervention to the present regime in Iraq. [HL1703]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe Chancellor announced a contingency reserve of £1 billion in the Pre-Budget Report to help meet our international defence responsibilities. The Ministry of Defence has been drawing down against this amount to meet the cost of military preparation to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1441. The Chancellor has now announced an additional three-quarters of a billion pounds to be made available in this financial year for further commitments should this prove necessary.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their current estimate of the public expenditure required by the United Kingdom by way of contribution to the costs of securing. policing and stabilising a new government in Iraq during each of the first three years after any removal of the current regime. [HL1704]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyNo such estimate of the costs of such operations over the timescale suggested has been made. If there is a government change in Iraq, the UK Government believe that the role of the United Nations and other multilateral institutions will be vital in addressing the reconstruction of Iraq in the aftermath of any war and are liaising closely with allies on this issue.