Iraq (Hansard, 17 June 2003)

§ Mr. Gardiner
To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if the Department will ensure that plans for the distribution of food after the end of the oil for food programme in Iraq will give particular attention to the need to create an independent food distribution network free from political interference. [119310]

§ Hilary Benn
The Government recognise the importance of establishing a food distribution system which addresses the needs of all those Iraqis who are dependent on food aid. DFID's long-term aim is to create an environment which will allow these Iraqis to become self-sufficient, rather than reliant on food handouts.

§ Mr. Gardiner
To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what estimate has been made of the number of civil servants in Iraq who have not returned to work. [119312]

§ Hilary Benn
DFID is not aware of any overall assessment of the number of civil servants in Iraq who have not returned to work since the start of the conflict. In a number of cases civil servants have been unable to return to work because of damage done to government buildings, predominately by looting. The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is providing finance for rehabilitating government buildings.
The CPA is now paying salaries and pensions for 1.35 million Iraqi civil servants throughout the country, including teachers, medical staff and police officers.

§ Mr. Gardiner
To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development whether the Coalition Provisional Authority has made an assessment of(a) the capacity of civil servants in Iraq to re-establish a working civil service and (b) the unmet needs of the Iraqi civil service. [119315]

§ Hilary Benn
The Coalition Provisional Authority is considering how best to re-establish an effective civil service.
The Coalition Provisional Authority is now paying salaries and pensions to 1.35 million Iraqi civil servants throughout the country, including teachers, medical staff and police officers. Funds are also being allocated to the rehabilitation of government buildings.