Written question asked by Robert Marshall-Andrews (Labour) on Tuesday, 28 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 4 November 2003. It was answered by Baroness Harman (Labour) on Tuesday, 4 November 2003 on behalf of the Solicitor General.

Solicitor-General

Question: To ask the Solicitor General, whether, in concluding that Iraq had failed to comply with UN Resolution 1441, the Attorney General relied upon facts and assertions contained in Cm 5769 as material to his conclusion and to the opinion he gave as to the authority to use force; and which such facts and assertions were so relied upon.

Answer: Mr. Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Solicitor-General whether, in concluding that Iraq had failed to comply with UN Resolution 1441, the Attorney-General relied upon facts and assertions contained in Cm 5769 as material to his conclusion and to the opinion he gave as to the authority to use force; and which such facts and assertions were so relied upon. [135602] The Solicitor-General: In reaching his view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq, as set out in the written statement made in Parliament on 17 March 2003, the Attorney-General had regard to the terms of all the Security Council resolutions set out in Cm 5769. In addition, in concluding that Iraq had failed to comply with its obligations under Security Council resolution 1441, the Attorney-General took into account the statements by the Executive Chairman of UMOVIC and the Director General of the IAEA dated 27 January 2003 and 14 February 2003.

Secondary information