Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Thursday, 26 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 May 2001. It was answered by Brian Wilson (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 May 2001 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 recent reports he has received concerning industrial activities undertaken at the Al Daura plant, near Baghdad.

Answer: Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning industrial activities undertaken at the Al Daura plant, near Baghdad. [159729] Mr. Wilson: The Iraqi acting Minister for Foreign Affairs wrote to the UN Secretary-General on 28 March requesting that funds from the UK oil-for-food programme be used for the reactivation of the Al Daura facility for the production of foot and mouth vaccine. In the continuing absence of UN monitors, the United Kingdom has opposed this request for reactivation of a plant known to have been used for biological weapons production in the past.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 367 c628W; 159729
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Chemical and biological warfare Biological weapons Iraq Foot and mouth disease Production Vaccination UN resolutions Sanctions Factories
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk