HC Deb 09 July 2003 vol 408 cc832-4W
8. Hugh Bayley

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how much money has been contributed to the UN's emergency appeal for Iraq by each G8 country. [124279]

Hilary Benn

According to the United Nations, the following contributions had been made by 4 July 2003, in US dollars rounded to the nearest 100,000:

$ million
USA 509.2
United Kingdom 108.5
Japan 87.1
Canada 29.9
Italy 20.1
European Community 11.3
Germany 10

France and the Russian Federation had not contributed to the United Nations appeal.

The figure for the United Kingdom does not include the additional £35 million commitment announced by my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for International Development on 26 June, which has yet to be allocated to individual UN agencies.

Harry Cohen

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development pursuant to the answer of 9 April, Official Report, column 303W, on Iraq, whether aid will be charged to Iraqi sources of funds; whether Treasury funds have been allocated to the Department to carry out humanitarian obligations under the Geneva Convention, the Hague Regulations and the UN Resolution following the passing of United Nations Resolution 1483; and if she will make a statement. [123545]

Hilary Benn

£210 million has been earmarked by DFID for humanitarian and reconstruction work in Iraq during the current crisis. £90 million of this is from DFID's own resources, and £120 million is from the Treasury central reserve. In addition, the Chancellor has set aside a further £60 million from the Central Reserve for any further reconstruction needs in Iraq that may arise in 2003–04.

None of this assistance will be charged to any Iraqi source of funds.

Llew Smith

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assistance the Department is giving to Greenpeace for its scheme to exchange clean water containers for barrels contaminated with uranium yellow cake in Iraq. [123666]

Hilary Benn

Greenpeace's initiative to exchange clean water containers for contaminated drums looted from the Al Tuwaitha nuclear facility near Baghdad is welcome. Greenpeace has not approached DFID for assistance with this scheme.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is investigating the local population's exposure to risk, and is assessing local health facilities, patterns of admissions and the possible medical impact of this reported exposure. A task force, including representatives the Iraqi Ministry of Health and Atomic Energy Commission, as well as a DFID secondee to the Coalition Provisional Authority, has been established in Baghdad to take forward further action on this matter.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what estimate the Department has made of the number of Iraqis who did not receive their June rations. [124003]

Hilary Benn

On June 1, the Iraqi Ministry of Trade re-launched the Public Distribution System targeting some 27 million Iraqis with food aid. The World Food Programme's (WFP) preliminary estimate is that approximately 26 million Iraqis received their June food rations. The WFP is expecting to release a comprehensive report to donors this week.