Written question asked by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 March 2005. It was answered by Denis MacShane (Labour) on Thursday, 7 April 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, what the total cost of his Department's operations in Iraq have been since September 2002.

Answer: Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost of his Department's operations in Iraq have been since September 2002. [221424] Mr. MacShane: The direct local resource cost of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) operations in Iraq for financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04 was £0.349 million and £5.465 million respectively. Direct local resource costs for financial year 2004-05 are estimated to be around £13 million. Estimated FCO capital investment expenditure in financial year 04-05, relating to setting up posts in Baghdad, Basra and Kirkuk, is some £10 million.

Secondary information