Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Thursday, 16 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 November 2003. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Monday, 3 November 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, from which country the information on Iraq's alleged attempt to procure uranium from Niger was obtained; and whether he has asked that country if its details may be publicly released.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from which country the information on Iraq's alleged attempt to procure uranium from Niger was obtained; and whether he has asked that country if its details may be publicly released. [133399] Mr. Mike O'Brien: As has been said before in response to questions on this subject, the Government will not identify the source of the information received. The information was passed to the Government in confidence by the Government of another state, and is therefore covered under Exemption 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. We did seek authority from the originators to release the information to UN inspectors. This permission was not granted. We subsequently urged the Government concerned to make the information available themselves.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 133399; 412 c399W;412 c407W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Disclosure of information Iraq Nuclear weapons Procurement Radioactive materials Niger Uranium
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk