§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the sale of national assets in Iraq by the Coalition provisional administration. [124313]
§ Mr. RammellSince the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) took over the administration of Iraq, Iraqi oil has been sold by CPA through the Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organisation in accordance with the terms of paragraph 20 of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483. Under paragraphs 20 and 21 of this resolution, all revenues from sales of Iraqi oil are deposited into the Development Fund for Iraq, less 5 per cent, which is to be deposited into the Iraq Compensation Fund as established under UNSCR 687 of 1991. No other Iraqi assets have been sold by the CPA.
§ Mr. SymsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made with establishing the interim authority in Iraq. [125038]
§ Mr. RammellWe welcome the formation by Iraqis of the Governing Council—the core of the Iraqi Interim Administration—on 13 July. This is a momentous step that means Iraqis will now play a central role running their country.
The Governing Council is representative of Iraq society and includes a narrow Shia majority, Sunnis and Christians and three women. The Council will work to ensure views of all Iraqis are represented. It delivers a key part of UNSCR 1483.
The Governing Council has real power and will be involved in all key decisions on Iraq's future. It will name the new Ministers in the interim administration, run the Ministries and set the budget for 2004. It will also be responsible for Iraq's representation abroad. Some of the Council's early tasks will be: launching the Constitutional process—written by Iraqis for Iraqis; rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure; restoring security and stability; revitalising the economy and provision of essential services.
In all these activities the Coalition will provide support and advice.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials the Provisional Coalition Administration has in the British controlled sector of Iraq. [125615]
§ Mr. RammellThe are currently over 60 officials working for the Coalition Provisional Authority in the British area of operations in Southeast Iraq. Plans are in hand to increase this number.
§ Richard Younger-RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Department has received from the Russian government on the re-establishment of the electrical power system in Iraq. [125696]
§ Mr. RammellWe have received no such representations from the Russian Government.
§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Ministers were informed that the CIA had counselled the Security586W and Intelligence Services against including material relating to the alleged procurement of uranium from three African countries in the intelligence dossier published in September 2002; when the CIA communicated the advice to the Security and Intelligence Service; and if he will make a statement. [126328]
§ Mr. StrawI shall shortly be writing to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, in reply to his letter about this matter. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the head of MI6 met Mr. John Humphrys of the BBC since 1 May; who authorised each meeting; and for what purpose each meeting was held. [126464]
§ Mr. StrawIt is the longstanding practice of successive Governments not to comment on intelligence and security matters. The security and intelligence agencies are outside the scope of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Paragraph 6, Part I).