Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 April 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 May 2004. It was answered by Denis MacShane (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 May 2004 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Government first indicated that the country of source for the uranium source in Africa by Iraq was Niger.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government first indicated that the country of source for the uranium source in Africa by Iraq was Niger. [168284] Mr. MacShane: The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated in February 2003 that papers passed to the Agency concerning Iraqi attempts to procure uranium from Niger appeared to be forgeries. The Government made clear at that time that it had further evidence to support the claim made in its September Dossier that Iraq had sought to procure uranium from Africa. The first direct indication that we believed the source to be Niger was made in oral evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 27 June 2003. The evidence is available on the UK Parliament website at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/ cmselect/cmfaff/813/3062707.htm.

Secondary information