§ 24. Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Iraq. [64610]
§ Mr. Robin CookWe remain committed to maintaining international pressure on Iraq to fulfil its obligations and to preventing Iraq from threatening its neighbours once again. We are at one with our friends and allies on this. Our main priorities are to resolve outstanding disarmament questions and to improve further the humanitarian situation in Iraq. Discussions in the Security Council are focusing on both issues. We are also looking with EU partners at proposals for alleviating the suffering to which Saddam Hussein continues to subject the Iraqi people.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the claim by Mr. Scott Ritter that UNSCOM supplied information to five countries in return for intelligence from their sources; and if he will make a statement. [66102]
§ Mr. Tony LloydUNSCOM is entitled to seek information and advice from all possible sources in pursuit of its mandate to destroy Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction capability.
UNSCOM Executive Chairman Richard Butler has made it clear that he has always insisted on all UNSCOM activity being carried out strictly in pursuit of its disarmament mandate, not to benefit any individual member state.