§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been detained by coalition forces in Iraq since major hostilities ceased; how many are in custody; and how many of these are non-Iraqis, broken down by nationality. [154278]
§ Mr. IngramI have been asked to reply.
We do not hold data on the number of people detained by coalition forces as a whole. As at 8 March 2004, 83 individuals are being held by UK forces at the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility in Multinational Division (SE) in Iraq. Of these, three are non-Iraqi—one Sudanese, one Saudi Arabian and one Egyptian.
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps(a) he is taking and (b) he plans to take to ensure that British companies involve Iraqi people in the management of and employment in their operations in Iraq. [159000]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienIt is important that UK companies play their part in developing Iraq, through the creation of joint business ventures, transfer of skills and technology and working with Iraqi partners in providing jobs and prosperity for the Iraqi people. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) has been working with a number of stakeholders such as the Coalition Provisional Authority, Iraqi ministries and both the Iraqi and UK private sector to help facilitate contacts. UKTI has also arranged a number of events in London, and in neighbouring countries, aimed at explaining the modalities of doing business in Iraq and bidding for reconstruction contracts. The British Reconstruction Office in Baghdad helps UK firms to identify potential Iraqi partners.
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guarantees he offers to British companies wanting to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq regarding the safety of their(a) employees and (b) assets. [159001]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe do not offer guarantees to British companies regarding the safety of employees and company assets while working in Iraq. British companies considering sending staff to Iraq are advised to consult the current travel advice, published on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, www.fco.gov.uk, which advises against visits to Iraq unless there is a strong commercial or professional reason to visit. Companies 209W with planned involvement in reconstruction projects are also advised to contact the Iraq Unit in UK Trade and Investment for further information.
We do provide general advice and information on a range of issues to British companies wanting to assist in the reconstruction process in Iraq but it is for the companies themselves to assess the risks of and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of their employees and assets.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to work with the other occupying powers in Iraq to ensure that(a) those Iraqi workers who were dismissed for trade union activities under Saddam Hussein are reinstated and (b) the International Labour Organisation is invited to assist the framing of Iraq's new labour and employment laws. [159645]
§ Mr. Rammell[holding answer of 10 March 2004]Judging the claims for reinstatement of Iraqi workers dismissed under the former regime is a matter for Iraqis. We attach great importance to the establishment of free trade unions to prevent similar abouses in the future. The Government have called on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) to assist in the creation of democratic trades unions in Iraq. To this end, the ICFTU organised a fact-finding mission to Iraq in February, with support from British officials. We also used our influence in favour of the Transitional Administrative Law, signed by the Iraqi Governing Council on 8 March 2004, including guarantees of 'free peaceable assembly and the right to join associations freely, as well as the right to form and join unions and political parties freely, in accordance with the law'.
The Coalition Provisional Authority, in conjunction with other organisations, is working on a revised draft of the labour law. They are utilising the skills of not only the ILO, but also the Iraqi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the US Department of Labor, as well as several other professionals.