Written question asked by Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) on Monday, 28 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 March 2005. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 March 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on which dates during December 2003 the UK special representative in Iraq was acting Coalition Provisional Authority administrator.

Answer: Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which dates during December 2003 the UK special representative in Iraq was acting Coalition Provisional Authority administrator. [212313] Mr. Rammell: Whenever ambassador Bremer, Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Administrator, was absent from Iraq, his US deputy took charge and made decisions on his behalf. In May 2003, the UK Government appointed a UK Special Representative for Iraq to work alongside ambassador Bremer, but as an independent presence with no formal role within the CPA's hierarchy and with no formal legal decision- making power. However, from 23 to 30 December 2003, when both ambassador Bremer and his deputy were absent from Iraq, the UK Special Representative looked after CPA affairs. There were neither policy decisions made about Iraq, nor orders signed during this period.

Secondary information