§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 1 April 2003, to the hon Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien),Official Report, column 616W, on Iraq, what representations he has received from aid agencies and other non-governmental organisations regarding the likely cost of humanitarian aid in Iraq; and what discussions he has had with (a) ECOFIN and (b) the UN regarding the funding of measures to meet humanitarian needs. [108544]
§ John HealeyThe Chancellor has not received any formal written representations from aid agencies or other non-governmental organisations regarding the likely cost of humanitarian aid in Iraq.
ECOFIN has not formally discussed the funding of measures to meet humanitarian needs. However the commission has reported to ECOFIN Ministers its preliminary assessment in relation to the allocation of 168W funds for humanitarian aid from the EU budget at the Informal ECOFIN on 5 April. The Paymaster General attended this meeting for the UK.
There have been no discussions between the Chancellor and the UN regarding the funding of measures to meet humanitarian needs in Iraq.
The Chancellor announced on 27 March that a total of £240 million had been set aside for humanitarian assistance in Iraq. £90 million of this is from the Department for International Development budgets and £120 million from the Reserve. In addition, £30 million has been allocated for the Ministry of Defence to provide immediate assistance on the ground. In his Budget Statement on 9 April, the Chancellor set aside £60 million to back up the UN and the work of reconstruction and development in Iraq. This is additional to the funds already earmarked for Iraq.