Written question asked by Barry Gardiner (Labour) on Wednesday, 30 April 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 May 2003. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Thursday, 8 May 2003 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the (a) vulnerability and (b) prospects for retention of agents for food distribution programmes in Iraq.

Answer: Mr. Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the (a) vulnerability and (b) prospects for retention of agents for food distribution programmes in Iraq. [111457] Clare Short: It is important to get a food distribution programme re-established as soon as possible. 16 million Iraqis depended on the Oil for Food Programme before the conflict and are therefore vulnerable to disruptions in food supply. Early indications from WFP and the Iraqi Ministry of Trade suggest that the food distribution network has, in those provinces that have been assessed, survived the conflict. In Basra province WFP has been able to retrieve the records of all 1.8 million beneficiaries of food rations. Assessments are underway in other governorates. It has been reported that many food agents want to resume work and have been reporting to distribution centres.

Secondary information