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Iraq

Answer

[holding answer 28 November 2005]: The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) ceased operating in Iraq at the end of June 2004, at which point control of the Development Fund for Iraq (DPI) was transferred to the sovereign Government of Iraq. We continue to encourage the transparent management of public funds by the Iraqi Government.The UK is providing economic technical assistance to the Iraqi Government to improve the transparency and management of public expenditure through reforms to the budget cycle. A team of UK-funded advisers also works closely with the Iraqi Ministry of Finance on essential reforms to the subsidy system which will help to improve transparency in public funds. The UK is also helping to build up the capacity of the Prime Minister's Office, the Iraqi Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Interior, and the southern Provincial Councils. This work is supporting the development of an effective Iraqi civil service which is able to administer public funds in a more accountable way. Earlier this year the National Audit Office hosted a study tour for the Iraqi Supreme Board of Audit to compare current practices. In addition, the UK is encouraging Iraq to sign up to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and to the UN Convention for Anti-Corruption.The role of the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) is to act as an audit oversight body for DPI. Its purpose is to help ensure that the DPI is used in a transparent manner for the benefit of the people of Iraq and that export sales of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas from Iraq are consistent with prevailing international market best practices. IAMB membership includes representatives from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, UN Secretary General's Office, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and Iraq's Ministry of Finance. External audits of the IAMB have been carried out by KPMG, The UK is not directly involved with the IAMB.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

440 c298W;440 c298-9W; 31247

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Audit Iraq Public expenditure Development Fund for Iraq International Advisory and Monitoring Board