Written question asked by Tam Dalyell (Labour) on Thursday, 27 November 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 December 1997. It was answered by Tony Blair (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 December 1997 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the oral statement of the Secretary of State for International Development of 5th November, Official Report, column 328, what steps he has taken to ensure that sanctions affect elites more than poor people in (a) Iraq and (b) Libya.

Answer: Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the oral statement of the Secretary of State for International Development of 5 November, Official Report, column 328, what steps he has taken to ensure that sanctions affect elites more than poor people in (a) Iraq and (b) Libya. [18648] The Prime Minister: The impact of sanctions regimes on poor people is under review by the Department for International Development. In the context of Iraq DFID officials have visited northern Iraq, and are studying the 180 day report of the Secretary General, issued on 1 December, on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 986 and 1111 in order to improve the effectiveness of the humanitarian assistance provided under those arrangements in helping meet the needs of Iraqi people. The vast majority of Libya's exports and imports are unaffected by sanctions.

Secondary information