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Howells, Kim (18)
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Reconstruction (18)
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The United Kingdom, with its international partners, remains committed to supporting Iraq's development into a secure and stable country, able to play its rightful role in the region and within the international community. This is consistent with our proactive approach to foreign policy, centred on the strategic goals that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary outlined to the House on 8 January 2008.
The United Kingdom, with its international partners, remains committed to supporting Iraq's development into a secure and stable country, able to play its rightful role in the region and within the international community. This is consistent with our proactive approach to foreign policy, centred on the strategic goals that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary outlined to the House on 8 January 2008.
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Asked by
Tobias Ellwood
(Conservative)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
What assessment he has made of the effect of the situation in Iraq on the UK's foreign policy goals.
Subjects
Iraq; Foreign policy; Reconstruction
Date
25 March 2008
Reference
474 c1
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
There is very little I disagree with in that.
There is very little I disagree with in that.
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Asked by
Denis MacShane
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Are we not seeing a post-Iraq foreign policy emerging, exemplified by President Sarkozy's visit here, his desire to see a reintegration with NATO and to send more troops to Afghanistan, and also by Senator John McCain's statement on the front page of Le Monde at the weekend that the US must listen to its allies and rebuild relations with Europe? Is not the real lesson to learn that Europe and the US must work together and the US must listen to Europe? Britain has to be a leader in Europe, and the way forward is neither the anti-European populism of the right nor the stupid anti-US rhetoric of the left.
Subjects
Iraq; Foreign policy; Reconstruction
Date
25 March 2008
Reference
474 c2
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I admire the hon. Gentleman's interest in this issue and I always have done. However, if he is implying that what Britain has done in the middle east is somehow more damaging than, for example, the duplicity that we have witnessed from some of the capitals in the middle east on issues such as Lebanon or support for the rejectionists in Gaza and the west bank, I disagree. The real damage is being done by those who want to see the middle east not as a settled, prosperous area, but under the influence of certain extremist groups and terrorists.
I admire the hon. Gentleman's interest in this issue and I always have done. However, if he is implying that what Britain has done in the middle east is somehow more damaging than, for example, the duplicity that we have witnessed from some of the capitals in the middle east on issues such as Lebanon or support for the rejectionists in Gaza and the west bank, I disagree. The real damage is being done by those who want to see the middle east not as a settled, prosperous area, but under the influence of certain extremist groups and terrorists.
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Asked by
Crispin Blunt
(Conservative)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
The Minister will know as well as anyone the amount of disappointment felt by Britain's allies in the middle east at our failure to exercise more influence over the course of events in Iraq, in particular on the mistakes in American policy. Could the Minister give his assessment of the damage that has been done to the achievement of British foreign policy goals by the damage to our influence with our friends in the region?
Subjects
Iraq; Foreign policy; Reconstruction
Date
25 March 2008
Reference
474 c2-3
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
No, I certainly do not agree. I do agree that our involvement in Iraq has generated tremendous controversy, and we have to accept that. It would be silly to deny it. However, on the other hand, I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman to consider that Iraq is not now in a position to attack its neighbours, to gas and poison its own people or to commit the sort of atrocities that occurred before Saddam Hussein was removed.
No, I certainly do not agree. I do agree that our involvement in Iraq has generated tremendous controversy, and we have to accept that. It would be silly to deny it. However, on the other hand, I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman to consider that Iraq is not now in a position to attack its neighbours, to gas and poison its own people or to commit the sort of atrocities that occurred before Saddam Hussein was removed.
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Asked by
Viscount Hailsham
(Conservative)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Does the Minister understand that many of us believe that our involvement in Iraq has done immense damage to Britain's national and international interests, and that that is one of several disreputable reasons why the present Government will not allow an immediate inquiry into Iraq?
Subjects
Iraq; Foreign policy; Reconstruction
Date
25 March 2008
Reference
474 c3
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Yes, it is important to stress that there are parts of Iraq that have done extremely well over the past year or so. Like my hon. Friend, I visited Irbil recently and saw the encouraging developments there. What is required now is a sense of unity between Irbil, Baghdad and Basra that will enable that country to start to tap its enormous potential, because it could be very prosperous and a key country for the whole middle eastern region.
Yes, it is important to stress that there are parts of Iraq that have done extremely well over the past year or so. Like my hon. Friend, I visited Irbil recently and saw the encouraging developments there. What is required now is a sense of unity between Irbil, Baghdad and Basra that will enable that country to start to tap its enormous potential, because it could be very prosperous and a key country for the whole middle eastern region.
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Asked by
Sarah McCarthy-Fry
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Last month I was in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and I met women's groups and trade union groups. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is by forging links with such groups seeking social justice that we will achieve our foreign policy goals in Iraq?
Subjects
Iraq; Foreign policy; Reconstruction
Date
25 March 2008
Reference
474 c3
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I do not think that ““schoolboy errors”” is the right description. I know that the hon. Gentleman understands that tremendous resentment was felt towards the Ba'ath party and the Iraqi army for what they had done over the previous 10 years, including the appalling events in Kurdistan and the massacre of Shi'a s in the south. If he is asking whether I think, with the benefit of hindsight, that it was a mistake to do that, I shall defer to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson) who is, among other things, a military historian, and can give his hon. Friend a more considered view. I think that it is easy to look at things with hindsight and to assume that the facts as we now know them were apparent at the time.
I do not think that ““schoolboy errors”” is the right description. I know that the hon. Gentleman understands that tremendous resentment was felt towards the Ba'ath party and the Iraqi army for what they had done over the previous 10 years, including the appalling events in Kurdistan and the massacre of Shi'a s in the south. If he is asking whether I think, with the benefit of hindsight, that it was a mistake to do that, I shall defer to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson) who is, among other things, a military historian, and can give his hon. Friend a more considered view. I think that it is easy to look at things with hindsight and to assume that the facts as we now know them were apparent at the time.
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Asked by
Tobias Ellwood
(Conservative)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
On 23 May 2003, Jerry Bremer, head of the coalition provincial authority, ordered the dissolution of the Iraqi army. A week before that, he had disbanded the Ba'ath party, alienating tens of thousands of Iraqis, including some 40,000 teachers and as many nurses and doctors. Will the Minister now concede that those were two of the biggest schoolboy errors in recent peacekeeping history and explain why Britain supported those decisions?
Subjects
Iraq; Foreign policy; Reconstruction
Date
25 March 2008
Reference
474 c1-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What assessment he has made of the effect of the situation in Iraq on the UK's foreign policy goals.
What assessment he has made of the effect of the situation in Iraq on the UK's foreign policy goals.
Asked by
Tobias Ellwood
(Conservative)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
18 March 2008
For answer on
25 March 2008
Answered on
25 March 2008
The United Kingdom, with its international partners, remains committed to supporting Iraq's development into a secure and stable country, able to play its rightful role in the region and within the international community. This is consistent with our proactive approach to foreign policy, centred on the strategic goals that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary outlined to the House on 8 January 2008.
Subjects
Iraq; Foreign policy; Reconstruction
Date
25 March 2008
Reference
474 c1; 196044
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress made on redevelopment of Iraq's industrial base.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress made on redevelopment of Iraq's industrial base.
Asked by
Sarah McCarthy-Fry
(Labour)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
18 December 2007
For answer on
8 January 2008
Answered on
8 January 2008
Redevelopment of Iraq's industrial sector after decades of conflict, sanctions, underinvestment, corruption and poor management is challenging. We welcome Iraqi efforts to improve infrastructure, pass key legislation, such as the Investment Law, and increase budgetary allocations to key Government Ministries eg Ministry of Industry and Minerals.The UK and our partners continue to support investment, job creation and economic reconstruction through Provincial Reconstruction Teams, international compact, and UK-inspired Basra Economic Package.
Subjects
Iraq; Reconstruction
Date
8 January 2008
Reference
470 c440W; 175910
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many of his Department's personnel were assigned to the British provincial reconstruction team in (a) Basra and (b) Lashkar Gah in each year since 2005; what contact each team has with local people on reconstruction issues; and...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many of his Department's personnel were assigned to the British provincial reconstruction team in (a) Basra and (b) Lashkar Gah in each year since 2005; what contact each team has with local people on reconstruction issues; and...
Asked by
Liam Fox
(Conservative)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 November 2007
For answer on
3 December 2007
Answered on
6 December 2007
The UK employs a broad range of civilian staff in support of the Governments of Iraq and Afghanistan to help develop a stable and secure environment in both countries. The Basra provincial reconstruction team (PRT) was formally established in April 2006 along with PRTs in other provinces. Since this time, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has assigned one permanent member of staff and three consultants on contract to the PRT. Nine local people have been employed as contract staff. The Department for International Development (DFID) has assigned one permanent member of staff and 12 consultants, although no more than seven DFID consultants have provided capacity building support at any one time.Over 50 staff have been employed in Afghanistan from across the Government, including the FCO, DFID and the Afghanistan Drugs Inter-Department Unit.Activities covered by the PRT staff in both Iraq and Afghanistan include work in governance, rule of law, reconstruction and economic development. The Lashkar Gah PRT also covers counter narcotics activities. During the period 2006 to 2008, DFID is committing £7 million to quick impact projects in Helmand for reconstruction and development projects. The PRT in Helmand has issued 91 contracts in Lashkar Gah and these are delivered through local business, suppliers and non-governmental organisations.
Subjects
Iraq; Afghanistan; Reconstruction
Date
6 December 2007
Reference
468 c1432W; 170817
House
House of Commons
(2) what contacts his Department's personnel assigned to the British provincial reconstruction team in (a) Basra and (b) Lashkar Gah have with local people on reconstruction issues; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what contacts his Department's personnel assigned to the British provincial reconstruction team in (a) Basra and (b) Lashkar Gah have with local people on reconstruction issues; and if he will make a statement;
Asked by
Liam Fox
(Conservative)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 November 2007
For answer on
3 December 2007
Answered on
6 December 2007
The UK employs a broad range of civilian staff in support of the Governments of Iraq and Afghanistan to help develop a stable and secure environment in both countries. The Basra provincial reconstruction team (PRT) was formally established in April 2006 along with PRTs in other provinces. Since this time, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has assigned one permanent member of staff and three consultants on contract to the PRT. Nine local people have been employed as contract staff. The Department for International Development (DFID) has assigned one permanent member of staff and 12 consultants, although no more than seven DFID consultants have provided capacity building support at any one time.Over 50 staff have been employed in Afghanistan from across the Government, including the FCO, DFID and the Afghanistan Drugs Inter-Department Unit.Activities covered by the PRT staff in both Iraq and Afghanistan include work in governance, rule of law, reconstruction and economic development. The Lashkar Gah PRT also covers counter narcotics activities. During the period 2006 to 2008, DFID is committing £7 million to quick impact projects in Helmand for reconstruction and development projects. The PRT in Helmand has issued 91 contracts in Lashkar Gah and these are delivered through local business, suppliers and non-governmental organisations.
Subjects
Iraq; Afghanistan; Reconstruction
Date
6 December 2007
Reference
170818; 468 c1432W
House
House of Commons
(3) how many of his Department's personnel were assigned to the British provincial reconstruction team in (a) Basra and (b) Lashkar Gah in each year since 2005.
(3) how many of his Department's personnel were assigned to the British provincial reconstruction team in (a) Basra and (b) Lashkar Gah in each year since 2005.
Asked by
Liam Fox
(Conservative)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 November 2007
For answer on
3 December 2007
Answered on
6 December 2007
The UK employs a broad range of civilian staff in support of the Governments of Iraq and Afghanistan to help develop a stable and secure environment in both countries. The Basra provincial reconstruction team (PRT) was formally established in April 2006 along with PRTs in other provinces. Since this time, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has assigned one permanent member of staff and three consultants on contract to the PRT. Nine local people have been employed as contract staff. The Department for International Development (DFID) has assigned one permanent member of staff and 12 consultants, although no more than seven DFID consultants have provided capacity building support at any one time.Over 50 staff have been employed in Afghanistan from across the Government, including the FCO, DFID and the Afghanistan Drugs Inter-Department Unit.Activities covered by the PRT staff in both Iraq and Afghanistan include work in governance, rule of law, reconstruction and economic development. The Lashkar Gah PRT also covers counter narcotics activities. During the period 2006 to 2008, DFID is committing £7 million to quick impact projects in Helmand for reconstruction and development projects. The PRT in Helmand has issued 91 contracts in Lashkar Gah and these are delivered through local business, suppliers and non-governmental organisations.
Subjects
Iraq; Afghanistan; Reconstruction
Date
6 December 2007
Reference
468 c1432W; 170822
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what initiatives are being pursued by (a) his Department and (b) the British embassy in Baghdad to encourage investment by British companies and British nationals in reconstruction and other economic activity in Iraq;
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what initiatives are being pursued by (a) his Department and (b) the British embassy in Baghdad to encourage investment by British companies and British nationals in reconstruction and other economic activity in Iraq;
Asked by
Marquess of Lothian
(Conservative)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 October 2007
For answer on
10 October 2007
Answered on
25 October 2007
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials in the UK, Iraq and Jordan, advise British companies on trade and investment opportunities in Iraq, as well as general economic, political and security developments. Details of Iraqi government tenders and other contracts are published on the UKTI website and FCO officials in Iraq lobby on behalf of British companies pursuing specific contracts, when required. UKTI officials in the UK support inward visit programmes, seminars and other events with a commercial focus: enabling British companies to engage directly with Iraqi Ministers and officials responsible for Government contracts.UKTI officials in our embassy in Amman carry out a significant amount of Iraq-based work through contacts with leading Iraqi companies and business people based in Jordan. The UKTI team in Amman also maintains close contact with the World Bank and other international financial institutions working in Iraq that are based in Jordan, and has supported an annual British company presence at the Rebuild Iraq trade exhibition. UKTI officials based in both Amman and Baghdad have participated in two British trade missions to the Kurdistan region over the past year, with the support of FCO staff in the region.Over recent years, UKTI and FCO officials have supported a large number of British companies interested in trade and investment opportunities in Iraq. However, records covering private investment by British companies in Iraq are not kept and it is, therefore, not possible either to summarise the private investments made over the past 12 months, or estimate the proportion of direct investment or contractual work involving British companies since formal hostilities were declared to be over.
Subjects
Iraq; Reconstruction
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
157100; 465 c593-4W
House
House of Commons
(2) what categories of assistance are available from the British embassy in Baghdad to encourage and promote direct investment in Iraq by British companies and British nationals; what such investments have been made over the last 12 months; and what assistance was provided by the British embassy in each case;
(2) what categories of assistance are available from the British embassy in Baghdad to encourage and promote direct investment in Iraq by British companies and British nationals; what such investments have been made over the last 12 months; and what assistance was provided by the British embassy in each case;
Asked by
Marquess of Lothian
(Conservative)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 October 2007
For answer on
10 October 2007
Answered on
25 October 2007
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials in the UK, Iraq and Jordan, advise British companies on trade and investment opportunities in Iraq, as well as general economic, political and security developments. Details of Iraqi government tenders and other contracts are published on the UKTI website and FCO officials in Iraq lobby on behalf of British companies pursuing specific contracts, when required. UKTI officials in the UK support inward visit programmes, seminars and other events with a commercial focus: enabling British companies to engage directly with Iraqi Ministers and officials responsible for Government contracts.UKTI officials in our embassy in Amman carry out a significant amount of Iraq-based work through contacts with leading Iraqi companies and business people based in Jordan. The UKTI team in Amman also maintains close contact with the World Bank and other international financial institutions working in Iraq that are based in Jordan, and has supported an annual British company presence at the Rebuild Iraq trade exhibition. UKTI officials based in both Amman and Baghdad have participated in two British trade missions to the Kurdistan region over the past year, with the support of FCO staff in the region.Over recent years, UKTI and FCO officials have supported a large number of British companies interested in trade and investment opportunities in Iraq. However, records covering private investment by British companies in Iraq are not kept and it is, therefore, not possible either to summarise the private investments made over the past 12 months, or estimate the proportion of direct investment or contractual work involving British companies since formal hostilities were declared to be over.
Subjects
Iraq; Reconstruction
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
157101; 465 c593-4W
House
House of Commons
(3) what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) investment and (b) contractual work in Iraq involving British companies over the period since formal hostilities were declared to be over.
(3) what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) investment and (b) contractual work in Iraq involving British companies over the period since formal hostilities were declared to be over.
Asked by
Marquess of Lothian
(Conservative)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 October 2007
For answer on
10 October 2007
Answered on
25 October 2007
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials in the UK, Iraq and Jordan, advise British companies on trade and investment opportunities in Iraq, as well as general economic, political and security developments. Details of Iraqi government tenders and other contracts are published on the UKTI website and FCO officials in Iraq lobby on behalf of British companies pursuing specific contracts, when required. UKTI officials in the UK support inward visit programmes, seminars and other events with a commercial focus: enabling British companies to engage directly with Iraqi Ministers and officials responsible for Government contracts.UKTI officials in our embassy in Amman carry out a significant amount of Iraq-based work through contacts with leading Iraqi companies and business people based in Jordan. The UKTI team in Amman also maintains close contact with the World Bank and other international financial institutions working in Iraq that are based in Jordan, and has supported an annual British company presence at the Rebuild Iraq trade exhibition. UKTI officials based in both Amman and Baghdad have participated in two British trade missions to the Kurdistan region over the past year, with the support of FCO staff in the region.Over recent years, UKTI and FCO officials have supported a large number of British companies interested in trade and investment opportunities in Iraq. However, records covering private investment by British companies in Iraq are not kept and it is, therefore, not possible either to summarise the private investments made over the past 12 months, or estimate the proportion of direct investment or contractual work involving British companies since formal hostilities were declared to be over.
Subjects
Iraq; Reconstruction
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
157102; 465 c593-4W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on reconstruction in Iraq in each financial year since 2002-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on reconstruction in Iraq in each financial year since 2002-03.
Asked by
Mark Hoban
(Conservative)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
6 July 2007
For answer on
10 July 2007
Answered on
17 July 2007
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) financial contribution to reconstruction in Iraq is made principally through the tri-departmental Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) and the Peacekeeping Pool, managed jointly with the Department for International Development (DFID) and Ministry of Defence (MOD).The spend upon Iraq from these pools since 2003 is as follows:
We have also contributed to the NATO training mission in Iraq (NTMI) and to the EU Just Lex rule of law mission for Iraq.
The programmes that the FCO, DFID and MOD fund through the GCPP and the Peacekeeping Pool aim to build the capacity of the Iraqi government, including support to the criminal justice system, civil society, human rights and the central Ministries in Baghdad. Spend is higher in 2006-07 than in other years, due to the implementation of a comprehensive programme of work in Basra to address governance, rule of law and security issues. MOD, DFID and FCO agreed to commit an extra £20million over two years for Basra on top of existing funds.The NTMI provides leadership training opportunities for the Iraqi security forces. EU Just Lex conducts out of country training for senior Iraqi police, members of the judiciary and penitentiary staff. It has trained over 1,000 officers since its inception in 2005.
| £ | |
| 2003-04 | 4,995,000 |
| 2004-05 | 28,625,000 |
| 2005-06 | 28,442,000 |
| 2006-07 | 40,947,000 |
| NATO | |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| 2004-05 | 173,000 |
| 2005-06 | 250,000 |
| EU Just Lex | |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| 2005-06 | 1,603,000 |
| 2006-07 | 2,277,000 |
Subjects
Iraq; Reconstruction
Date
17 July 2007
Reference
148971; 463 c251-2W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much and what proportion of the funds from her departmental resources dedicated to reconstruction, humanitarian aid and community relations purposes for Iraq have been allocated to the provision of security by private contractors for those implementing the programmes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much and what proportion of the funds from her departmental resources dedicated to reconstruction, humanitarian aid and community relations purposes for Iraq have been allocated to the provision of security by private contractors for those implementing the programmes.
Asked by
Derek Conway
(Conservative)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 February 2007
For answer on
26 February 2007
Answered on
28 February 2007
For the period April 2006 to March 2007, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has spent £40.4 million on programmes in Iraq, focusing on supporting the police and rule of law. Of this total, £12.5 million has been spent on providing security to these critical programmes, representing 31 per cent. of overall spend.
Subjects
Iraq; Reconstruction
Date
28 February 2007
Reference
457 c1381W;457 c1365W; 123628
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the incidence of corruption with reconstruction projects in Iraq.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the incidence of corruption with reconstruction projects in Iraq.
Asked by
Jim Cunningham
(Labour)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
30 January 2006
For answer on
6 February 2006
Answered on
6 February 2006
There have been several comprehensive assessments of financial management of the Iraqi reconstruction effort, the most prominent of which is the series of reports published by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. Given concerns about levels of corruption in Iraq generally, the Government does not fund Iraqi institutions directly. All UK reconstruction programmes are monitored continuously, and where we have had any financial or management concerns we have taken action to address them.The UK is committed to working with the Iraqi Government, alongside the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other donors, to improve accountability and transparency in Iraq's public finances. Iraq is making progress in developing its anti-corruption institutions. These now include a Board of Supreme Audit, Inspector Generals resident in each Ministry and a Commission for Public Integrity, which can refer cases to the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. In addition, our efforts include encouraging Iraq to adopt international legal frameworks and standards in natural resource management, including the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
Subjects
Armed conflict; Corruption; Iraq; Peacekeeping operations; Reconstruction
Date
6 February 2006
Reference
47856; 442 c773W;442 c773W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department has given to the Iraq Oil Ministry on the introduction of production sharing agreements.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department has given to the Iraq Oil Ministry on the introduction of production sharing agreements.
Asked by
Colin Challen
(Labour)
Answered by
Kim Howells
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
10 January 2006
For answer on
16 January 2006
Answered on
16 January 2006
The contractual arrangements for future oil exploration and production are a decision for the incoming Iraqi Government and the Government have not sought to influence this decision. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office did support a 2003 independent study which set out the full range of possible contractual financing arrangements to allow the rehabilitation and development of the Iraqi oil industry.Under the outgoing Iraqi Transitional Government, the Ministry of Oil was clear that the option of concluding Production Sharing Agreements would be one of a range of contracts that might be needed to help redevelop the oil industry. This is because after decades of isolation, Iraq has weak technical and managerial capacity combined with an ageing infrastructure with severely outdated production facilities. Furthermore, there has been no explorations for new fields since the 1980s and limited post-2003 investment and poor maintenance. Given the state of the infrastructure, and the US$20 billion needed for reconstruction of the oil industry, it is highly unlikely that the Iraqi Government will be able to fund investment in the oil industry itself. Without the needed investment the oil industry will not be able to fuel the required sustainable economic growth in Iraq.The Government reiterates, however, that the decision as to whether to conclude a Production Sharing Agreement will be for the Iraqi Government to decide.
Subjects
Contracts; Iraq; Oil; Reconstruction
Date
16 January 2006
Reference
41884; 441 c978-9W
House
House of Commons