Oral answer to question provided on Wednesday, 25 April 2007 in the House of Lords, by Lord Triesman (Labour).

Iraq: Death Penalty

Answer: My Lords, the Iraqi Government most certainly listen to us, but they do not always agree. Even if I thought that they were not listening as attentively as I or this House would wish, I would be determined to continue to make the points that I have described. Capital punishment, torture and abuse are unacceptable, as are convictions secured by torture and abuse. We will continue making that point.

This is an answer to the Oral question asked on Wednesday, 25 April 2007 by Lord Wallace of Saltaire (Liberal Democrat).

Question: My Lords, can we have an honest assessment of just how much influence the British Government any longer have over the Iraqi Government? I am not quite clear of our status and links now that we have withdrawn from three ofthe four provinces for which we were previously responsible. Yesterday, I noted from the report bythe Secretary of State for Defence that we haveresumed patrolling in the Gulf. However, the Iraqi Government appear to listen mainly to the US Administration, who as we know are actively in favour of capital punishment. I recall a senior member of the Bush Administration saying that they were in favour of more capital punishment. Do the Iraqi Government listen to us on these or other matters?

Secondary information