Written question asked by Tam Dalyell (Labour) on Monday, 15 March 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 March 1999. It was answered by Derek Fatchett (Labour) on Thursday, 18 March 1999 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 assessment he has made of the explanation given to the UN by the Iraqis for the non-distribution of $275 million worth of medicinal supplies; and what reports he has received concerning incomplete apparatus and quality control tests on these supplies. - Includes ref to 16 March 1999 at 327 c573W.

Answer: Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the explanation given to the UN by the Iraqis for the non-distribution of $275 million worth of medicinal supplies; and what reports he has received concerning incomplete apparatus and quality control tests on these supplies. [77254] Mr. Fatchett: I share my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's assessment, as set out in the answer of 16 March 1999, Official Report, column 573, of the Iraqi memorandum about the non-distribution of $275m worth of medical supplies. It is an unconvincing attempt by Iraq to divert responsibility for the distribution problems in the centre and south on to others. In the northern governorates, where distribution is carried out by UN agencies, no problems in the distribution of medical goods were noted in the UN Secretary-General's report.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 77254; 327 c763W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Development aid Humanitarian aid Iraq Monitoring Medicine Medical equipment United Nations