§ Mr. LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what undertakings have been given by the Iraqi regime that the money released back to that country in exchange for Ian Richter's release will be used for humanitarian purposes.
§ Mr. HurdThe Iraqis were told that, after the release of Mr. Richter, we would exceptionally be prepared to unfreeze £70 million of Iraqi assets for humanitarian purposes as permitted by United Nations Security Council resolutions 661 and 687. We do not plan to release further tranches of assets for this purpose. The Iraqis have been told that we remain firmly committed to the United Nations sanctions regime: the Iraqi Government have not yet met the requirements laid on it by the UN Security Council. Details of the purposes for which the assets are released will be passed to the UN sanctions committee and other interested organisations.
§ Mr. LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Iraqi regime has yet taken advantage of the UN resolutions allowing it to sell oil provided that the money is used for humanitarian relief.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe remain hopeful that the regime will see the advantage to be gained by the Iraqi people from implementing Security Council resolutions 706 and 712.