§ Lord Greavesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Oil for Food Ration List could be used as the basis for the electoral register for democratic elections in Iraq; and what would be the advantages and disadvantages of doing this. [HL635]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanOn 15 November 2003, the Iraqi Governing Council announced plans for establishing a Transitional National Assembly formed through caucus elections at provincial level. The Assembly will be elected no later than 31 May 2004, leading to the creation of a new transitional administration by the end of June 2004. This will be followed by elections for a Constitutional Convention and the holding of a census, leading in turn to national elections for a new representative Iraqi Government by the end of 2005. The Oil for Food Ration List would only be used at national level if direct elections were held before the census. There are no plans to do so at this time.