Iraq (Hansard, 26 February 1998)

§ Mr. Amess
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Iraqi Government concerning the abuse and torture of prisoners of war from Kuwait. [30981]

§ Mr. Fatchett
We play an active role in the Tripartite Commission which discusses issues relating to Gulf war detainees. Iraq is also a member of the Commission.
313W

§ Ms Abbott
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is the United Kingdom representative on the UN Security Council Ad Hoc Committee Security Council Resolution 661 Committee-Iraq; and how often the committee meets. [31250]

§ Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 24 February 1998]: The UK representative on the Security Council Committee Established by Resolution 661 (1990) Concerning the Situation Between Iraq and Kuwait is the Political Counsellor of the UK Mission to the United Nations.
The Committee meets formally once every six weeks. There are also frequent informal meetings.

§ Ms Abbott
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) requests to supply materials and supplies for essential civilian needs, (b) applications and contracts for humanitarian supplies and (c) hospital equipment which the Ad Hoc Committee on Security Council 661 Committee-Iraq has vetoed; and if he will make a statement. [31251]

§ Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 24 February 1998]: In 1997, over 12,000 applications were submitted to the Security Council Committee Established by Resolution 661 (1990) Concerning the Situation Between Iraq and Kuwait. It would therefore be a disproportionate use of resources to attempt to determine the total number of applications which have been blocked since the Committee was established in 1990.
Regarding the status of applications submitted to the Committee under the "oil for food" scheme, the UN produces a document detailing the status of each application and the goods involved. I have arranged for a copy of the latest available version of this document to be placed in the Libraries of the House.