HL Deb 21 October 2003 vol 653 c160WA
Lord Rea

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether all Kuwaiti citizens held by Iraq after the 1991 Gulf war have been located; and, if so, whether they have been returned to Kuwait alive or dead. [HL4738]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We regret that none of the 605 Kuwaitis missing after the Gulf War has so far been found alive. We understand 34 sets of human remains have been positively identified. The Tripartite Committee, established after the invasion of Kuwait under the auspices of the ICRC, has begun to investigate mass graves in Iraq. The coalition has so far established that there are 202 mass grave sites. The UK sent a team of forensic experts to Iraq who have made recommendations on the treatment of mass graves, including identification programmes. The Coalition Provisional Authority has set up an Office of Human Rights and Transitional Justice which will put these recommendations into effect.

Lord Rea

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current outstanding amount and status of reparations from Iraq claimed by Kuwait following the 1991 Gulf War. [HL4739]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

According to the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) Kuwait has been awarded 37,113,774,922 US dollars of which 9,340,747,973 US dollars has been paid. A total of 27,773,026,949 US dollars remains outstanding on the awards. The UNCC states that a further 22,186,998,404 US dollars of claims remain to be adjudicated.