Written question asked by Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative) on Monday, 31 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 February 2005. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Monday, 7 February 2005 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the objectives of British development and aid policy in Iraq.

Answer: Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the objectives of British development and aid policy in Iraq. [213581] Hilary Benn: The objectives of DFID's programme in Iraq are: to promote rapid, sustainable and equitable economic growth; to encourage effective and accountable governance, and to promote social and political cohesion and stability. In meeting these objectives, DFID is: supporting Iraq's newly emerging public administration in delivering effective government to the people of Iraq; and providing advice and security support to the Iraqi electoral commission; assisting macro-economic management in Iraq, including the design of effective economic reform measures which safeguard the interests of the country's poorest and most vulnerable citizens; providing direct assistance in southern Iraq for infrastructure rehabilitation, employment generation, and building up the capacity of local government; supporting the development of Iraqi community organisations and public participation in the political process; financing training for the judiciary, and supporting the development of independent media; supporting the multilateral effort for Iraq through the World Bank and the United Nations in a number of sectors including health, education, power supply and support for returning refugees and their host communities.

Secondary information