HC Deb 11 February 1991 vol 185 cc303-5W
Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with the Government of Jordan about bombing of the Iraq-Jordan highway.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We have received reports from the Jordanian Government of bombing incidents on the highway in late January.

Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to that part of United Nations Security Council resolution 678 referring to the restoration of international peace and security as being applicable to a wider area than that covered by Arab Gulf states.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 30 January at column525. Security Council resolution 678 is concerned with the illegal Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait and measures taken to restore international peace and security in that area.

Mr. Adley

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approach he has received from the Iranian Government about their peace plans for the Gulf; and what response he has sent.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The Iranian Government are reported to have put forward to Iraq certain suggestions for achieving a peaceful solution to the current crisis. The details have not been disclosed, but we would support any proposal based on a complete Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait and full compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on surveys conducted by the United Nations, or any international body of which the United Kingdom is a member, into the efficacy of sanctions against Iraq up to 16 January.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 17 December to the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Mr. Young), at column71. The UN has not published any survey on the efficacy of sanctions against Iraq up to 16 January. We are not aware of any such survey published by other international organisations to which we belong.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to propose the permanent sitting of the United Nations during the Gulf war so that all peace proposals can be examined on the international stage.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

As required under article 28 of the charter, the UN Security Council is so organised as to enable it to function continuously.

Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has received from the United Nations Secretary-General about bombing of vehicles on the main Iraq-Jordan highway; and what response he has made.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We have received no communications from the UN Secretary-General on this subject.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on statements made by or reports issued from United Nations senior officials or its offices, as to the level of casualties, military and/or civilian, in Iraq and Kuwait.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We have no information on casualty levels in Iraq or Kuwait from United Nations sources. The Amnesty International report published in December describes conditions and civilian casualties in Kuwait under Iraqi occupation.

Mr. Marlow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take action to place the costs of the Gulf war to individual members of the European Community to joint European account in relation to the dependence of individual Community members on Gulf oil.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

No.