Iraq (Hansard, 13 June 2003)

§ Mr. Rosindell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the European Commission regarding aid to Iraq. [113479]

Mr. Mike OBrien
We have discussed Iraq regularly with EU colleagues, including representatives of the Commission at the General Affairs and External Relations Council, and most recently at the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers in Rhodes on 2–3 May 2003. These discussions covered the whole range of issues relating to Iraq, including provision of aid.

§ Mr. Tynan
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 29 April 2003,Official Report, column 327W, whether an Iraqi chargé daffaires remains accredited to the European Union; and when the United Kingdom requested the status of Iraqi diplomatic personnel to the European Union be reviewed. [113846]
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Mr. Mike OBrien
We are now, as part of a wider exercise, reviewing the position of all Iraqi diplomats that may remain accredited to International organisations. In the light of UNSCR 1483 on post conflict Iraq, EU officials in Brussels are confirming the precise status of the accreditation of the Iraqi chargé daffaires.

§ Bob Spink
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action will be taken to ensure that those responsible for human rights abuses in Iraq are brought to justice. [114340]

Mr. Mike OBrien
British Government policy is that war criminals and those responsible for crimes against humanity should be brought to justice. Where possible, British forces have been tasked with securing and protecting evidence of such crimes so they may hand it over to the relevant prosecuting authority at the appropriate time.
The Iraqi people should be able to bring to justice those who have committed crimes against them, with suitable international help. A coalition team, including British forensic experts with the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA), is assessing the situation on the ground and will make recommendations for future action.

§ Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with other sponsors of the Draft Resolution on post-conflict Iraq as put before the United Nations Security Council on 9 May 2003, on including a renewed mandate to UNMOVIC to verify weapons of mass destruction and their manufacturing infrastructure in Iraq. [114410]

§ Mr. Rammell
Security Council Resolution 1438, adopted on 22 May, reiterates the importance of disarming Iraq of all prohibited weapons programmes and of eventual confirmation of disarmament. It makes clear that the occupying powers have a responsibility in this regard and invites them to keep the Security Council informed of progress.
We believe that international verification has an important role to play in confirming that the process has been completed. In this context, we agreed with the cosponsors of the resolution and the other members of the Security Council that the resolution should refer to the need to revisit the mandates of UNMOVIC and IAEA under previous Security Council resolutions.

§ Glenda Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for the use of surplus funds within the proposed Iraqi assistance fund for disarmament of Iraq. [114558]

Mr. Mike OBrien
The UK, US and Spain have tabled a draft resolution before the United Nations Security Council, a key element of which is the proposed establishment of a Development Fund for Iraq (previously known as the Iraq Assistance Fund). The aim of the fund is to meet costs associated with meeting the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, reconstruction and the establishment of a representative Government in Iraq. An integral part of this process will 247W be the continuation of the disarmament of Iraq, and we propose that this is one of the tasks which the Development Fund for Iraq would cover.

§ Glenda Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the proposed UN special co-ordinator will co-ordinate proposals for the reconstruction of Iraq(a) validated by the UN and (b) imposed by the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance. [114562]

§ Mr. Rammell
The UN Special Representative, as proposed in the draft Resolution tabled by the UK, US and Spain, would be responsible for coordinating UN and international agencies work in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction activities in Iraq. The Representative would be specifically tasked with facilitating the reconstruction of key infrastructure and promoting economic reconstruction.
The draft Resolution would require the Special Representative to coordinate with the Occupying Powers, including the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, in carrying out this mandate.
Negotiations on the draft Resolution continue in the Security Council.

§ Lynne Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, column 497W, how many ICRC outlets there in (a) Baghdad and (b) Iraq for people to send safe and well messages; and whether the UK Government is assisting the ICRC in the provision and advertisement of its message service. [115701]

§ Mr. Rammell
The ICRC presently has Restoring Family Links (RFL) facilities in five centres in Iraq: Baghdad, Erbil, Dohuk, Sulymaniah and Basra. In addition, mobile tracing units have been set up at seven other sites: Mosul, Kirkuk, Nasiriyah, Amarah, Najaf, Kerbala and Samawa. More mobile units will be deployed following a forthcoming increase in capacity.
British forces are assisting the ICRC in its provision of RFL services by providing ICRC delegates with relevant field security information, thus allowing them to gain access to potential beneficiaries.
Members of the public contacting the Consular Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the question of safe and well messages from relatives in Iraq are routinely referred to the ICRCs RFL service.

§ Mrs. Ann Cryer
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the early return by the United Nations Weapons Inspectors to Iraq. [115741]

Mr. Mike OBrien
We recognise the need for validation of any WMD discoveries by the Coalition. UNMOVIC and the IAEA would be an option to provide such validation.
UN Security Council Resolution 1483, adopted unopposed, explicitly refers to the need for the UN Security Council to revisit the inspectors mandates.

§ Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2003,Official Report, column 287W, on Iraq, what the evidential basis was for his statement that 248W organised groups had access to the Baghdad museum and had planned the looting well in advance of military attacks. [115757]

Mr. Mike OBrien
I am told that the Research Director at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad has indicated to British officials that it appears that organised groups may have planned the looting inadvance. I am also told that the nature of missing items also suggests that key artefacts were specifically targeted.

§ Adam Price
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the US administration on the restoration of the US dollar as Iraqs oil currency. [115895]

§ Mr. MacShane
None.

§ Dr. Tonge
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken to ensure the deployment of UN human rights monitors in Iraq. [116037]

§ Mr. Rammell
The fall of Saddam Husseins regime brought to an end a long period of violations of the Iraqi peoples human rights. As requested in UN Security Council Resolution 1483, put forward by the UK, US and Spain and adopted on 22 May, the UN Secretary-General has appointed a Special Representative whose responsibilities include the promotion of human rights. The UN, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is examining how to take this forward. This might include the deployment of UN human rights monitors. We aim to work closely with the Special Representative. In addition, working to support the people of Iraq in moving toward the establishment of representative government based on the rule of law and affording equal rights and justice to all Iraqi citizens is the best means to ensure that their human rights are protected.

§ Ms Bridget Prentice
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent UK forces and aid workers have restored(a) electrical power and (b) water resources to homes in Basra; and if he will make a statement. [115347]

Mr. Mike OBrien
Power, water and sewerage systems in Basra were in a poor state before the recent conflict. Royal Engineers are playing a vital role in repairing and restoring Iraqi power supplies. 80 per cent. of Basra now has power and access to running water, which is substantially better than before the conflict. UK forces and NGOs are working to replenish water treatment chemicals and 75 per cent. of the city is covered by a sewerage system.
Forces have been working to secure conditions for UN agencies and NGOs to take over responsibility for humanitarian relief. UNICEF is planning to fund the repair of the water pipeline between Umm Qasr and Basra. Coalition engineers are working with Powergen to re-establish the national grid.