Written question asked by Lynne Jones (Labour) on Monday, 14 May 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 16 May 2007. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Thursday, 24 May 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 May 2007, Official Report, column 1712W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, how many requests there have been for assistance from British overseas posts by Iraqi nationals who have left Iraq after threats of violence because of their work as interpreters with the British Army; and how many of these requests have been agreed to.

Answer: We are aware of having received two requests for assistance on behalf of three Iraqi nationals who left Iraq after threats of violence because of their work as interpreters with the British Army (one joint letter received in our embassy in Damascus, and one request received in our embassy in Cairo). However, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold a central record of this information. To answer this question accurately officials would need to contact all of our overseas posts, which would incur disproportionate cost.As I said in my response to my hon. Friend on 23 April 2007, Official Report, column 914W, all requests for assistance are dealt with on a case by case basis, taking account of individual circumstances.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 137692; 460 c1481W
Session: 2006-07
Related items: Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Thursday, 7 June 2007
Written questions
House of Commons; Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations
Wednesday, 2 May 2007
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Iraq Peacekeeping operations
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk