Written question asked by Lynne Jones (Labour) on Thursday, 8 May 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 16 May 2003. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Friday, 16 May 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, if he will set up a facility via the British Embassy in Iraq for people to get a message about their health and safety to relatives in the UK. - www.familylinks.icrc.org.

Answer: Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set up a facility via the British Embassy in Iraq for people to get a message about their health and safety to relatives in the UK. [113167] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The British Office Baghdad is staffed by a small team and consequently can operate only in a limited capacity. As the situation stabilises, we would hope to increase staffing of the office and extend the range of services on offer, in line with other diplomatic missions. However, people in Iraq can send 'safe and well' messages to relatives via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Relatives outside Iraq can send such messages via the ICRC's special website (www.familylinks.icrc.org).

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 113167; 405 c497W;405 c495W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Armed conflict Civilians Families Iraq Reconstruction Iraq conflict International Red Cross
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk