HC Deb 25 January 1999 vol 324 cc147-8W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a mechanism has existed for British members of the UN Weapons Inspection Team in Iraq to provide intelligence information to Her Majesty's Government and its agencies. [67051]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The Government have made clear that all information exchanges between the UK and UNSCOM have been strictly in pursuit of UNSCOM' s mandate to dismantle Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction capability.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances British members of the UN Weapons Inspection Team in Iraq carried out tasks in that country beyond those required by the UN. [67020]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

None. All activities carried out by UK nationals serving as UNSCOM inspectors have been strictly in pursuit of UNSCOM's mandate to dismantle Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction capability.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the talks by his Department's Director for the Middle East and North Africa with the Government of Iran about the Iraq situation. [67354]

Mr. Fatchett

The FCO Director for the Middle East and North Africa visited Iran on 13–14 January for talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Sarmadi, Deputy Foreign Minister Zarif and the Director General for Western Europe, Mr. Qasemi. The Director briefed the Iranians on our thinking on the way forward on Iraq, focusing on activity in the Security Council, particularly on weapons of mass destruction issues, and the need to respond to the humanitarian situation.

Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the objectives of Her Majesty's Government policy on Iraq. [67275]

Mr. Fatchett

As a permanent member of the Security Council, our main objective is to ensure that Iraq complies with its obligations under UN resolutions. This is in line with the parallel aim of protecting the UK's interests both in the region and more widely. In pursuit of those objectives we are discussing with other Security Council members how to move forward, both on the key outstanding disarmament questions and on the humanitarian issues.