§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the numbers of UK citizens travelling to Iraq to fight against coalition forces; and if he will make a statement. [137140]
§ Mr. Rammell[holding answer 10 November 2003]: We are aware of references in the media to this issue, but we have no reports to suggest that significant numbers of UK citizens are preparing to travel to, or are in Iraq, to fight Coalition forces. Nevertheless, we continue to investigate reports of this nature.
§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the intentions of aid agencies to stay in Iraq. [137523]
§ Hilary BennI have been asked to reply.
In the current circumstances in Iraq, aid agencies are understandably keeping under review their security procedures, their ways of working and the extent to which they maintain a presence in the country. Decisions in these areas are of course for them to take. DFID keeps in close contact with the United Nations and non-governmental organisations, particularly those which receive DFID funding, and is able to offer advice where appropriate, DFID has offered £3 million towards UN security measures in response to an appeal following the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad in August. DFID has also offered additional 449W finance, if needed, for increased security provisions for those NGOs that we are supporting in Iraq. DFID, and other Government Departments, have put in place special security provisions for their own staff working in Iraq.