HC Deb 13 March 2003 vol 401 cc410-1W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that, in the event of UK involvement in military conflict in Iraq, prisoners and persons detained will be protected by the 1949 Geneva Convention and accommodated in facilities that meet appropriate UN standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners. [100889]

Mr. Hoon

I have been asked to reply.

The Government will act in conformity with the Geneva Convention and international law.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on US plans for US military administration in Iraq following military action. [101597]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

No decision has been made to launch military action in Iraq. If military action becomes necessary to enforce Iraq to disarm, a US-led military coalition will provide security and facilitate the provision of humanitarian relief for the Iraqi people, in accordance with international law.

Mr. Tom Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Canadian proposals on Iraq as the basis for a resolution at the United Nations Security Council. [102535]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

All proposals on Iraq, from whatever source, have been carefully examined.

The Canadian proposal contains a number of sensible and useful suggestions, some of which have been incorporated into our current position.

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the steps taken to authenticate the documentation on which the claims in the Government dossier that Iraq attempted to buy uranium from Niger were based. [102666]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

There were no claims made in the Government Dossier that Iraq had attempted to procure uranium specifically from Niger.

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the costs associated with the return of the UN arms inspectors to Iraq to(a) the UN, (b) each member of the Security Council and (c) other UN members. [102668]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Under the terms of UN Security Council resolution 1284, the UNMOVIC and IAEA inspection regimes for Iraq are funded by the diversion of resources from the Oil-For-Food programme. They are, therefore, effectively self-financing.

The United Kingdom has met some ad-hoc requests for funding for training and other logistical support for UNMOVIC and the IAEA since the establishment of the new inspection regime in March 2000. The cost of this support to date has been approximately £1.2 million.

We do not have figures relating to any financial support provided by other countries.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential environmental consequences arising from military action in Iraq; and what provision he is making to minimise these. [102820]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

No decision to launch military action against Iraq has been taken.