---

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations are taking place into possible misuse of the UN Oil for Food Programme; and what UK Government involvement is in those investigations, including forensic audit work by UK citizens and enterprises. [182108] Mr. Rammell: In April 2004 the UN Secretary- General appointed a high-level independent inquiry into allegations of misadministration and corruption of the UN's Oil for Food Programme. The inquiry was unanimously endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 1538 adopted on 21 April 2004. The Government supports the inquiry into these serious allegations, and is co-operating fully through all appropriate means with the inquiry. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office met the Head of the UN inquiry, Paul Volcker, in London in May. Separately, before the hand-over of authority in Iraq on 28 June, the Coalition Provisional Authority called for an investigation into the allegations under the auspices of the Iraqi Board of Supreme Audit. In May 2004, auditors Ernst and Young won the contract to undertake the Iraqi investigation. The Government are aware that committees of the US Senate and Congress have also made inquiries into the allegations, and UK officials have met committee representatives in London, Washington and New York. The Government continues to follow developments in the UN inquiry, and any information received by the Government are being passed to the appropriate authorities for their consideration.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

182108; 423 c848W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Corruption Iraq Food Oil Sales United Nations

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk