Written question asked by John Hayes (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 1 December 2005. It was answered by Baroness Jowell (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 December 2005 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Iraqi Heritage Sites

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will raise the issue of the protection of Iraqi heritage sites with other EU Ministers during her chairmanship of the Education Youth and Culture Council.

Answer: The Education Youth and Cultural Council was held on 14 November. The subject of the protection of Iraqi heritage sites would not have been an appropriate agenda item for this meeting, which is concerned with EU business only.However, when I have been made aware of potential damage to the heritage of Iraq, I have written to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary requesting that he bring these concerns to the attention of those countries who had troops serving in the area, under the auspices of the multi national force, and emphasising that we should impress upon others the importance of caring properly for Iraq's heritage and the urgent need to protect its sites. As a result, the Foreign Office has raised these concerns with the relevant countries concerned.The UK takes very seriously the need to respect Iraq's cultural heritage. The Iraq (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2003, introduced in response to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546, makes it an offence to be in possession of illegally removed Iraqi cultural property, or to knowingly trade in such material.

Secondary information