Written question asked by Barry Gardiner (Labour) on Tuesday, 29 April 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 May 2003. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 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 carried out of whether schemes similar to UNTAC's Operation Paymaster could be implemented in an interim administration in Iraq; whether the Government (a) is party to and (b) has been involved in negotiations to ensure that the wages of civil servants are guaranteed in an interim administration established in Iraq.

Answer: Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment her Department has carried out of whether schemes similar to UNTAC's Operation Paymaster could be implemented in an interim Administration in Iraq; [111059] (2) whether the Government (a) are partly to and (b) have been involved in negotiations to ensure that the wages of civil servants are guaranteed in an interim Administration established in Iraq. [111061] Clare Short: DFID has made no assessment of whether a scheme similar to UNTAC's Operation Paymaster could be implemented in an interim Iraqi Administration. The Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) is currently paying some Iraqi public sector workers to keep the civil Administration running. ORHA and others are currently reviewing the most appropriate manner in which to pay public sector workers and hope to implement a sustainable and equitable system nationwide as soon as possible.

Secondary information