Written question asked by Teddy Taylor (Conservative) on Friday, 10 November 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 November 2000. It was answered by Lord Hain (Labour) on Thursday, 16 November 2000 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the total list of holds imposed by the UK on humaritarian goods for Iraq on 1st November. - Inc figures.

Answer: Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total list of holds imposed by the UK on humanitarian goods for Iraq on 1 November. [138457] Mr. Hain: Over US$37 billion has been made available to purchase humanitarian goods under the Oil for Food programme since its inception in 1996. This year alone, Oil for Food revenue is expected to reach more than US$16 billion. Figures for 1 November are no longer available. However, as at 13 November the UK had 208 contracts placed on hold, valued at approximately US$0.3 billion, which is less than 1 per cent. of the total value of Oil for Food revenue. The UK, as a responsible member of the UN Iraq Sanctions Committee, scrutinises contracts very carefully to ensure that goods are not supplied to Iraq in violation of Security Council resolutions. Holds are normally lifted after assurances have been received about the end-use or in-country monitoring of these goods. Since early October the UK has lifted holds on contracts valued at $200 million following confirmation that the goods will be subject to specific monitoring within Iraq. It is noteworthy that at the end of October Iraq's bureaucracy was holding back the delivery of US$1.1 billion worth of goods already approved by the Sanctions Committee. Detailed information on the status of individual Oil for Food contracts are available from The Office for Iraq Programme's website (http://www.un.org/Dems/oip.html).

Secondary information