Iraq (Hansard, 6 November 2003)

§ Mr. Ancram
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government have had with the US Administration regarding foreign nationals entering Iraq to participate in terrorist activities; and what assessment his Department has made of the number of foreign terrorists in Iraq. [135945]

§ Mr. Straw
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Rammell) today (UIN136351). I am withholding details of the Government's estimate of the number of foreign terrorists in Iraq under exemptions 1 and 2 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

§ Mr. Ancram
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to prevent foreign terrorists coming into possession of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; and what discussions the Government have had with international partners on this matter. [135946]

§ Mr. Straw
Coalition forces regularly conduct antiterrorist operations, and the UK and US Governments have urged Iraq's neighbours to tighten up border 821W security and border controls to deny terrorists access to Iraq. Coalition forces and the Iraq Survey Group continue to search for and secure WMD-related sites and materials.

§ Mr. Menzies Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of external support from governments in countries surrounding Iraq for individuals and organisations carrying out terrorist activities in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [135966]

§ Mr. Straw
We have received a range of reports about possible support from individuals and organisations from within Iraq's neighbours for terrorist activity in Iraq. The Government have urged Iraq's neighbours to tighten up security and border controls to deny terrorists access to Iraq.

§ Angus Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the US Administration on possible foreign involvement in attacks in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [136351]

§ Mr. Rammell
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly discusses Iraq issues with US Secretary of State Colin Powell. The Government have urged Iraq's neighbours to tighten up security and border controls to deny terrorists access to Iraq.