HC Deb 19 October 1999 vol 336 c425W
Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made, by which(a) Ministers and (b) officials, to the Holy See about the Pope's planned visit to Iraq. [94360]

Mr. Hain

Ministers have not made any representations. Foreign Office officials have discussed the proposed Papal visit to Iraq with officials from the Holy See. We have expressed concern that the visit will be manipulated by the Iraqi government for propaganda purposes and represented as evidence of Papal support for Saddam Hussein's regime and its policies.