Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 6 March 2006.

Iraq: Weir Group

Question: My Lords, if it transpires that western governments, where evidence exists, are unprepared to bring the hundreds of firms in breach of sanctions before the courts in their respective countries, thereby showing that sanctions simply cannot work, should Ministers in the future faced with decisions about sanctions against other countries not have it in mind that sanctions simply cannot be enforced?

Answer: My Lords, I am loath to draw the conclusion that sanctions cannot be properly enforced. In the United Nations Security Council, we have consistently tried to ensure robust compliance in this and other cases, as detailed in the IIC report of 7 September. We have proposed a fresh package of proposals, termed ““smarter sanctions””, to refocus sanctions more tightly on WMD, military and dual-use goods; to end the illegal oil trade; to counter smuggling; and to improve the provision of humanitarian goods. I make the point not only because that is what we should do but because it is what we should expect everyone else to do, and that is what we should argue.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 679 c527
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Criminal investigation Corruption Iraq Food Oil Sanctions Weir Group
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk