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Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Thursday, 11 June 2009.

Iraq: UK Aid

Question
My Lords, the noble Lord will have noticed the UN Secretary-General’s warm commendation of the British and European Union contribution to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility in Iraq, but as the contributions to that fund come to an end at the end of this month, what is the United Kingdom doing under the alternative UN development assistance framework, which is now being evolved?
Answer

My Lords, I do not have the precise details of that involvement but, broadly speaking, we support the UN’s approaches. We are very strongly of the view that Iraq, which has the third biggest oil reserves in the world, will fund its own development. The problem is that Iraq is extremely difficult to do business with. We are trying to help it and, through the UN, build its capacity to do business with the rest of the world.

Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
711 c735-6 
Session
2008-09
Oral question type
Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Bridges Development aid Hospitals Iraq Schools Reconstruction Basra
Link
View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk