HC Deb 10 March 2004 vol 418 cc1507-8W
Sir Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 23 February 2004,Official Report, column 54W, on Iraqi oil, if she will list, by month, (a)the volume of Iraqi oil sold since May 2003, (b)the amount paid for the oil and (c)the amount received by the Development Fund for Iraq; and if she will make a statement. [158145]

Mr. Timms

[holding answer 9 March 2004]:Information on the amount of Iraqi oil produced each month is given in Table 1 as follows. Information on the amount paid for the oil is not publicly available. As of 4 March 2004, US $6.15 billion of oil proceeds had been received by the Development Fund for Iraq. This information is available through the CPA website at www.cpa-iraq.org/budget/DFI_introl.html

Table 1: Iraqi oil production
Million barrels per day
Net production1
May 2003 0.28
June 2003 0.44
July 2003 0.70
August 2003 1.11
September 2003 1.41
October 2003 1.58
November 2003 1.92
December 2003 1.97
January 2004 2.04
1Estimated Iraqi oil supply net of re-injected crude oil.
Source:
International Energy Agency

Sir Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 23 February 2004,Official Report,column 54W, on Iraqi oil, on what basis Iraqi oil has been sold other than on a spot basis; to whom the oil has been sold; and if she will make a statement. [158146]

Mr. Timms

[holding answer 9 March 2004]:Iraqi oil is sold by two other means, in addition to that sold on a spot basis.

The first is through tendered cargoes by which "parcels" of crude are advertised for sale and for which sealed priced bids are made. The second is through long-term agreements whereby certain regular buyers of Iraqi oil agree to buy a given volume of Iraqi oil at a pre-agreed sale price. These buyers may also be offered additional volumes at the same price should there be excess production.

The Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) is responsible for the sale of oil on behalf of the Ministry of Oil.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many contracts for reconstruction projects in Iraq have been awarded to each British company to have won such a contract; and what the total value is of such contracts. [159003]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Because of the large number of different organisations involved it has become increasingly difficult to maintain a clear picture of the total volume of contracts awarded, and the cumulative value of these contracts. Numerous British companies have been awarded contracts and sub-contracts for the reconstruction process in Iraq but some have asked us not to publicise their success because of issues of commercial confidentiality. As such, we are not able to put a value on the contracts awarded and the fact that many are involved in partnership with American, Iraqi and other companies.