§ 12. Syd RapsonTo ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what role his Department have in establishing a civilian government in Iraq by the Iraqi people. [144417]
§ Hilary BennThe Department are playing an important role, in support of the Coalition Provisional Authority, in preparing for the planned transfer of sovereignty to Iraq's Transitional Authority in July 2004.
DFID has seconded over 40 advisers to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Basra and Baghdad to support civilian government during the occupation of Iraq. We intend to commit substantial further resources from early 2004 towards strengthening the capacity of Iraqi central government Ministries to manage the country effectively Work to train members of the judiciary will also begin in 2004.
We will also be prepared to consider support for the conduct of democratic elections in Iraq, and have agreed in principle to support civic education, and other initiatives to ensure that as many Iraqis as possible are equipped to participate in the process of political transition to a democratically elected civilian government.