Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 December 2003. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 December 2003 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 steps Coalition forces are taking to deal with waste water being pumped untreated into rivers in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figures.

Answer: Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Coalition forces are taking to deal with waste water being pumped untreated into rivers in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [141182] Mr. Rammell: The Coalition has carried out emergency repair and rehabilitation work on several waste water treatment works in Iraq. Coalition partners have also partly funded UNICEF's environmental and sanitation programme in Iraq, with the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) contributing £6,835,187. DFID has also given £16,500,000 to the Red Cross movement, whose work includes water and sanitation activities. We understand that a request to the US Congress for $675 million specifically for waster water treatment has been successful and will be invested (by the Coalition's Programme Management Office) over the next two years.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 415 c423W; 141182
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: International assistance Iraq Pollution Sewage Rivers Sanitation Military aid Water treatment
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk