Written question asked by Ben Chapman (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 May 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 18 May 2007. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Thursday, 24 May 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

United Nations Compensation Commission

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral answer of 1 May 2007, Official Report, column 1354, on the United Nations Compensation Commission, what criteria were taken into account in making the compensation awards of $52 billion; and what proportion of claimants were (a) individuals and (b) companies.

Answer: The UN Compensation Commission (UNCC) established six categories of compensation claims. Priority was given to claims from individuals forced to leave Iraq or Kuwait (Category A); to claims from individuals who suffered loss or personal injury or who lost a spouse, child or parent (Category B) and to claims from individuals who suffered personal losses of up to US$100,000 (Category C).Category D covered claims from individuals suffering losses over US$100,000; Category E covered claims from corporations; and Category F covered claims from Governments and International Organisations.Claims in all these categories were assessed and resolved by panels of Commissioners who were independent experts. The UNCC’s claims processing procedures were prescribed by the Security Council.1,539,265 eligible claims from individuals and 4,390 eligible claims from corporations, international organisations, and Governments have been paid according to the latest information available on the UNCC website:"www.unog.ch/uncc/."

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 138320; 460 c1489-90W
Session: 2006-07
Related items: Gulf War
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
Oral answers to questions
House of Commons
Subjects: UN Compensation Commission
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk