Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department first learnt of allegations of chemical weapons use against Kurds by Iraqi military forces; on what date this allegation was verified; and on what date Her Majesty's Government made representations to the Government of Iraq on the use of chemical weapons against Kurds.
§ Mr. WaldegraveAllegations of Iraq's military operations against the Kurds involving the use of chemical weapons were first made during the week beginning 22 August. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a statement on 2 September. Having established that there were compelling indications that chemical weapons had been used, we made representations to the Government of Iraq through the Iraqi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 21 September. We have called for an authoritative, independent investigation to establish the truth.