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1 Sept 2003 : Column 800W—continued
Iran
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Iranian Government about the construction of nuclear weapons. [126709]
Mr. MacShane: Our concerns about Iran's nuclear programme are raised with them at every opportunity, most recently by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary during his visit to Iran in July 2003.
We continue to urge Iran to meet in full its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Iran. [126710]
Mr. Rammell: We continue to have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Iran. There has been recent progress on some issues, such as in the establishment of equal rights for women to divorce and
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in the announcement by the Supreme Administrative Court of a suspension in stonings. However, systematic violation of human rights continues, including limits to freedom of expression.
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Iranian opposition about human rights violations in that country. [126711]
Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and Ministerial colleagues conduct discussions about Iran with a wide range of interlocutors. Information on the human rights situation in Iran is drawn from a range of different independent sources.
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what human rights reforms have been introduced in Iran since 5 February. [126712]
Mr. Rammell: Neither my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary nor I are aware of specific human rights reforms introduced in Iran since 5 February. There has been progress in some areas during the last 12 months, such as in the establishment of equal rights for women to divorce and the announcement by the Supreme Administrative Court of a suspension on stoning. But systematic human rights violation continues to be a key issue of concern in our relationship with Iran.
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with French Government ministers about their arrest of Iranian resistance members. [126713]
Mr. Rammell: None. Officials have discussed the matter with the French Embassy in London. The French Government have explained publicly that the police were acting on evidence that the group was about to launch a campaign of violence. Several key members were detained, including the co-leader Mary am Rajavi. We understand that most of them, including Ms Rajavi, have since been released on bail.
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Iran's compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. [126714]
Mr. Mullin: We have for some time been concerned about Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions. We regularly urge Iran to comply fully with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to sign and ratify the Additional Protocol to the IAEA Safeguards Agreement.
Iraq
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what use was made of the advice of the Attorney General on the legal basis for post conflict reconstruction of Iraq in the negotiations on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483. [120813]
Mr. Rammell: I am withholding the information under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. It is not the practice of the Government to comment on advice given by the Attorney General.
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Security Council Resolution 1483 acknowledges the continuing obligations of the occupying powers under applicable international law and clearly sets out the legal basis for the reconstruction of Iraq.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his discussions on the future government of Iraq; and whether former Ba'ath Party officials will be involved in them. [124030]
Mr. Rammell: During his visit to Iraq my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the evolving political process with Iraqis, US Ambassador Paul Bremer and UN Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello. There was broad consensus towards our approach, supported by UNSCR 1483, of helping Iraqis form a representative transitional administration leading to elections and democratic government.
On 16 May, the Coalition Provisional Authority issued an Order disestablishing the Ba'ath Party. This Order removes and bars all members of the Ba'ath Party at the rank of Senior Member and above from positions of authority in the future. All Ba'ath Party members suspected of criminal conduct will be investigated and, if necessary, detained.
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the membership of the interim Baghdad City Council, broken down by (a) sex, (b) political affiliation, (c) religious affiliation, (d) ethnic background, (e) profession and (f) age; what arrangements are in place to change the membership; and if he will make a statement. [124938]
Mr. Rammell: Membership of the 37 strong Baghdad City Council is diverse and comprises a range of ethnic, religious and professional backgrounds. Six members are women, one of whom was elected as deputy chair. There is also a wide age range. Members are elected through a bottom up process. Neighbourhood advisory councils select district advisory councils that in turn selects the city council. It is for Iraqis to determine future council membership. A list of the members is as follows. A more detailed list will be placed in the Library of the House.
- Dr. Khaled Basheer Mirza, 66 Council Chairperson. Karada district. Chaldean Christian. Serves on the Economy and Development Committee. Chairman of a university department.
Ms. Siham Hattab Hamdan, 31 Council Vice Chairperson. 31. Thawra, Medinat Sadr district. Shia Arab. Serves on Committees on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Public Relations, and Women and Children. Lecturer in English Literature.
Mr. Khaled Abdel Hussein Mohammed Khaily, 61 Rusafa, Hayy Idrissi, district. Faily Kurd. Member of the Health and Environment; Education, Youth and Sports; and Economy and Development committees. Retired Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Adnan Abdul Sahib Hassan, 52 Rusafa. Hayy Sheikh Omar district. Shia Arab. Member of the General Services. Women and Children, and Public Relations committees. Former reserve major in the Iraqi Army and customs agent.
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Mrs. Rasha Hani Hani, 29 Rusafa, Hayy Saadoun district. Sunni Arab. Member of the Economy and Development, Public Safety. Women and Children, and Education, Youth and Sports committees. Art teacher and actress.
Mr. Abdul Sattar Abdul Jabbar Al Ruba'ei, 46 Karkh, Hayy Sheikh Maroof district. Shia Arab. Serves on the Education, Youth and Sports, and Public Safety committees. Secondary School Teacher.
Ms. Shatha Hadi Mohammed Alobiadi, 34 Karkh, Hayy Al Salhiya district. Shia Arab. Member of the Women and Children, Economy and Development, and Public Relations committees. Previously worked in a bank
Mr. Kareem Mohammed Amin Mehdi Al Jaaf, 61 Karkh, Hayy Salhiya district. Faily Kurd. Member of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Economy and Development; and Women and Children committees. Manager of an apartment tower.
Mr. Sharhabel Shakir Rasheed, 44 Adhamiya, Hayy Adhamiya district. Sunni Arab. Serves on the Public Safety; Public Relations; and Economy and Development committees. Retired construction contractor.
Mr. Omar Mohammed Amin Al Rahmani, 43 Adhamiya, Hayy Al Maghrib district. Sunni Arab. Member of the Economy and Development, and Public Relations committees. Interpreter.
Dr. Riyadh Nassir Al Adhadh, 49 Adhamiya, Hayy Al Maghrib district. Sunni Arab. Chairman of the Administration Committee and also serves on the Health and Environment; and Education, Youth and Sports committees. Specialist in rheumatology and rehabilitation.
Mr. Amer Ahmed Baqr Ahmed Al Hashimi, 53 Adhamiya, Hayy Tunis district. Sunni Arab. Member of the General Services and Public Relations committees. Retired Major General in the Iraqi Army.
Sheikh Mohammed Baqer Al Suhail, 52 Kadhamiya, Hayy Kadhamiya district. Shia Arab. Chairman of the Economy and Development committee and also serves on the Public Relations committee.
Mr. Basim Salih Mahdy, 38 Kadhamiya, Hayy Hurriya district. Shia Arab. Currently, Mr. Member of the Economy and Development, Public Relations, and Public Safety committees. Self-employed as a business consultant.
Mr. Muhammed Sadik Hassan, 53 Kadhamiya, Hayy Utaffiya district. Shia Arab. Member of the Education, Youth and Sports, Women and Children and Public Relations committees. Retired secondary school physics teacher.
Mr. Saad Kheirabut Rashid, 28 Thawra, Medina! Al Sadr district. Shia Arab. Chairman of the Health and Environment committee and a member of the Public Relations, and Women and Children committees. He speaks English. Pharmacist.
Mr. Umran Hayder AIL 27 Thawra, Medinat Al Sadr district. Faily Kurd. Serves on the Education, Youth and Sports, and Public Relations committees. Works in a currency exchange.
Mr. Ahmed Hameed Yousif, 32 Thawra, Medinat Al Sadr district. Shia Arab. Member of the Health and Environment committee. Pharmacist.
Mr. Khudhair Abbas Nassir, 40 Thawra, Medinat Al Sadr district. Shia Arab. Member of the Administration, Education, Youth and Sports, and Economy and Development committees. Works in a CD/Video shop
Ms. Fatima Hassan Mohammed Al-Migdadi, 41 Thawra, Hayy Jamila district, Shia Arab. Member of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Public Relations, and Women and Children committees. English teacher
Mr. Hassen Hashim Al-Rubeii, 39 Thawra, Hayy Jamila district. Shia Arab. Serves on the Administration, Economy and Development, and General Services committees. Contractor with a construction company.
Sheikh Dari Khamis Al-Dari, 64 Mansour, Hayy Abu Ghuraib district. Sunni Arab. Serves on the Education. Youth and Sports committee.
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Dr. Saieb Siddiq Abdel Aziz Al Gailani, 46 Mansour, Hayy Yarmouk district. Sunni Arab. Member of the Council's Health and Environment committees. General Director of a medical centre.
Eng. Ali Radhi Al Haidary, 46 Mansour, Hayy Adil district. Shia Arab. Member of the Administration, Education, Youth and Sports, and Public Relations committees. Director of a paint company.
Dr. Majida Yousif Sail, 37 Mansour, Hayy Ghazeliya district. Sunni Arab. Member of the Women and Children committee. Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Eng. Ali Rashid Al-Zubaidy, 40 9 Nisan, Hayy Mashtal district. Shia Arab. Member of the Council's Public Relations Committee. Owner of automotive and heavy equipment spare parts shop.
Dr. Hussein Abdel Kadhem Tahir Salman, 30 9 Nisan, Hayy Al-Amin. Shia Arab. Member of the Health and Environment, Public Relations, and Economy and Development committees. General Practitioner.
Mr. Ali Mussad Kraidi, 42 9 Nisan, Hayy Al Obaidy district. Shia Arab, Chairman of the Public Relations committee and a member of the Economy and Development committee. Owner of an electrical equipment shop.
Eng. Abdulghani Khudair Al-Hussainy. 42 9 Nisan. Hayy Baghdad Al Jedida district. Shia Arab. Chairman of the Public Services Committee (dealing with roads, buildings, sewers, electricity, etc.) and a member of Economy and Development committee. Unemployed.
Mr. Yacoub Muhi Albu Khati, 36 Rashid district. Shia Arab. Serves on the City Council's Public Relations, and Public Safety committees. Retired Army non-commissioned officer.
Mr. Majed Abd Al Amer Abed Al Mosawi., 40 Rashid, Hayy Al Hadar district. Shia Arab. Member of the City Council's General Services and Women and Children committees. Owns a curtain factory.
Mr. Mohammed Zamil Saeed Al-Sa'adi, 32 Rashid, Hayy Al Saydiyah district. Shia Arab. Serves on the Legal and Human Rights, Economy and Development, and Women and Children committees. Attorney
Dr. Nassreen Hayder Kader, 35 Rashid, Hayy Al Hadar district. Sunni Kurd. Serves on the Economy and Development, Public Relations, Women and Children, and Health and Environment committees. Chief of Laboratories at a health clinic
Dr. Ali Hussain Faraj Daoud, 38 Rashid, Hayy Al-Furat district. Shia Arab. Former University Professor.
Mr. Louay Hatem Sultan Al Erris, 51 Karada, Hayy Al-Jami'a district. Shia Arab. Serves on the General Services, Education, and Youth and Sports committees; Deputy chairman of the Administration committee. Aircraft engineer.
Mr. Nashat Al-Husseini, 42 Karada, Hayy Zafraniya district. Shia Arab. Member of the Administration, General Services, Public Safety, Public Relations, and Economy and Development. Merchant.
Sheikh Ayad Jafar Al-Ekabi Karada, Hayy Zafraniya district. Shia Arab. Chairman of the Education, Youth and Sports committee and has also volunteered to serve on the Council's Economy and Development committee. Imam of a mosque.
Mr. Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 23 June 2003, Official Report, column 616W to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) and to
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the answer I gave on 1 July 2003, Official Report, columns 197–98W to the my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Glenda Jackson).
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his oral answer of 8 July 2003, Official Report, column 888, (1) whether his Department had an input into the Joint Intelligence Committee's assessment of the 45 minute claim; and if he will make a statement; [125789]
- (2) whether his Department had an input into the claims that Iraq was seeking uranium from Niger; and if he will make a statement; [125790]
(3) whether intelligence aspects in the Government's dossier on Iraq were not from a source (a) emanating from and (b) verified by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [125791]
Mr. Rammell: The issue of how intelligence information was handled, analysed and utilised in the preparation of the Government's dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction published in September 2002 is currently being addressed by the Intelligence and Security Committee of the House. Their report will be presented to the House in due course.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 7 July 2003, Official Report, column 579W, on Iraq, what measures the Government have taken to encourage all states to share information that they have with the IAEA. [125795]
Mr. Rammell: The UK played a key role in the drafting of UN Security Council Resolution 1441, which called on all states that had information relevant to the activities of the UN weapons inspectors to make that information available to them. In subsequent Security Council debates on the progress of inspections, we reiterated our support for UNSCR1441.
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was first informed of the attempts by Iraq to procure uranium from an African source; when this source was identified as being Niger; what documents he has examined that provide evidence of this procurement effort by Iraq; what efforts have been made to validate the information; and when the information and supporting documentation was made available to (a) the International Atomic Energy Agency and (b) UNMOVIC. [126059]
Mr. Rammell: The issue of the handling, analysis and utilisation of intelligence material in the preparation of the Government dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction published in September 2002 is currently being addressed by the Security and Intelligence Committee of the House. Their report will be presented to the House in due course.
The UK did not provide any documentation on Iraqi attempts to procure uranium from Africa to either the IAEA or to UNMOVIC.
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is towards the inclusion of representatives of Iraqi political parties in meetings with the occupying authorities in Iraq, with particular reference to the Iraqi Communist Party; when
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he or his representatives last met representatives of the Iraqi Communist Party; and what plans he has to meet such representatives in the future. [126086]
Mr. Rammell: In the run up to the formation of the Iraqi Governing Council on 13 July we sought to encourage the inclusion of a representative cross-section of Iraqi society through regular consultation with a variety of Iraqi leaders and groups.
John Sawers, UK Special Representative to Iraq, and Ambassador Bremer met the leader of the Iraqi Communist Party in the week before the launch of the Governing Council. John Sawers had previously met him, as had members of the US governance team. Many other Iraqi political leaders had recommended the inclusion of the Communist Party in the Council. Mr. Hamid Majid Mousa is the Iraqi Communist Party's representative on the Council.
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the United Kingdom representatives in Iraq have taken to ensure leaders of the former Ba'ath Party in Iraq are not given senior administrative or political positions. [126307]
Mr. Rammell: On 16 May, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) issued an Order disestablishing the Ba'ath Party. This Order removes and bars all members of the Ba'ath Party at the rank of Senior Member and above from positions of authority in the future. All Ba'ath Party members suspected of criminal conduct will be investigated and, if necessary, detained. The fifth CPA Order established the de-Ba'athification Council, an Iraqi body reporting to the CPA to vet former members of the Ba'ath Party for future Government employment.
The Coalition has, therefore, been very careful when re-staffing the Ministries, in consultation with the Governing Council, not to include senior Ba'thists: the CPA has a vigorous vetting procedure for senior positions.
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the members of the Iraqi Governing Council, indicating (a) their ethnicity, (b) their faith and (c) organisations or political parties which they represent; and if he will identify which members of the council are women. [126636]
Mr. Rammell [holding answer 17 July 2003]: The following information on the background of the members of the Governing Council was made public by the Coalition Provisional Authority on 13 July. I am withholding further details on each individual under exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information:
Iraqi Governing Council Text Issued by Coalition Provisional Authority on 13 July
Dr. Ebrahim Jafari Al Eshaiker
Main Spokesman of the Islamic Da'wah Party. Born in Karbala', educated in Mosul University as a medical doctor.
Head of the Iraqi National Congress (INC), a Professor of Mathematics and a businessman. Founder of the INC.
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Ahmad Shya'a al-Barak
General Coordinator for the Human Rights Association of Babel. General Coordinator for the Bar Association in Babel. Graduate of the Law Faculty, Babel University. Graduate of the College Management and Economy, Baghdad University. One of the tribal leaders of Al Bu Sultan tribe in Babel.
Secretary General of the Iraqi National Accord. PhD in medicine. Started to oppose the dictatorial regime in the early 1970s and was in the forefront of efforts to organise opposition both within Iraq and abroad.
Jalal Talabani is Secretary General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and a leading figure of the Iraqi democratic movement during the last 50 years.
Secretary of the Iraqi Communist Party since 1993. Born in Babil province. An economist and petroleum researcher. Left Iraq in 1978 and returned in 1983 to continue his political activities against the dictatorial regime.
A Judge who as a member of the Court of Appeal, held one of Saddam's edicts (confiscating land without proper compensation) unconstitutional. Was sentenced to two years in jail. Served eight months at Abu Ghraib before being released in the general amnesty last October.
Head of maternity hospital in Diwaniya. Studied and lived in the UK from the late 1960s until 1977 when 'she' returned to Iraq.
From the Al-Sumaidy clan with documented lineage from the Prophet Mohammed through Mousa Al-Khadhum. Ancestral lands located near Haditha in the Al-Anbar region. Writer, designer and entrepreneur. A prominent figure in the opposition to the Saddam regime.
Elected as Secretary General of the Kurdistan Islamic Union in the first conference of the party in 1994, was re-elected in the second and third conferences and still holds the post. Born in Halabja. Has written several books in Kurdish and Arabic.
From Kirkuk and from the Iraqi Turkoman Community. A trained Engineer and teacher. 'She' heads the Iraqi Women's Organisation (based in Kirkuk) which aims to bring together all the female communities of Iraq.
Head of the Islamic Da'wah Movement (Harakat al Dawa al Islamiya) in Basra. Writer, thinker and political activist. Editor of numerous newspapers and magazines.
Abdul Aziz al-Hakim is a religious and political leader and the current leader of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq. He is the brother of Muhammad Baqr al-Hakim. They both returned to Iraq after 20 years of exile and are both the sons of the late Ayatollah Sayyid Mohsin al-Hakim.
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Abdul Karim Al Muhammadawi
Head of Iraqi Party of God in Al Amara. Member and Rotating Chairman of Interim Supervisory Council in Maysan Province. Dubbed "Prince of the Marshes" for leading the resistance movement against Saddam in the Southern Marshes for 17 years, for which he spent six years in prison.
President of the Iraqi Independent Democrats. Former Foreign Minister and Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Diplomat. 'She' led Iraqi delegation to New York donors' conference. PhD in Modern Literature and Bachelors in Law. Working with UN programmes in Iraq since 1991 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Born in Mosul. A civil engineer. Recently Vice President of Hicap Technology Co. Lyd., Riyadh. Married with 4 children.
Secretary General of the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP). Born in the city of Kirkuk, Author of more the 30 books in the field of interpretation of the Holy Quran. Detained in 1996 on the charge of reorganising the IIP. Professor in the College of Education in Baghdad University.
Dr. Seyyid Muhammed Bahr ul-Uloom
Highly-respected Shi'a clergyman. Returned from London where he headed the Ahl al-Bayt charitable centre. Elected as the Shi'a member of a leadership triumverate by the Iraqi opposition after the Gulf Conflict.
Independent politician and long-term leader of the Kurdish National Struggle.
President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). He rose to this position from peshmerga. He was elected President in 1979 and re-elected in 1999.
Born in al-Shatra. Member of British Royal Doctors' College. Consultant in internal medicine and neurology. Author of the Declaration of the Shia of Iraq. Activist in human rights. Student of the martyr Imam Baaker al-Sadr.
Leader of the National Democratic Party. Resident of Baghdad. Lawyers, businessman and farm owner.
Born in Basra and practiced civil and criminal law before being disbarred and imprisoned by Saddam. Had been head judge at Nasiriya and now deputy head judge in Basra. Elected Governor of Basra on 4 July 2003 by the interim local council with the support of all the leading political and religious parties.
Secretary General of the Assyrian Democratic Movement. Active member of the Assyrian-Chaldean community. Former Minister of Public Works and Housing and Former Minister of Industry and Energy in Iraqi Kurdistan. Engineer since 1975. Activist against the dictatorial regime since 1979.
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The Governing Council includes 13 Shia; 11 Sunni; and one Christian. There are Shia, Sunni, Kurdish, Turkoman and Christian representatives. Three (12 per cent.) are women.
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the outbreak of radiation sickness at the Al Tuwaitha nuclear facility in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [126854]
Mr. Rammell: We are aware of reports of people in the area of the Al Tuwaitha nuclear facility having looted drums and containers, emptied low-enriched uranium from them, and taken the containers off to use for water storage. The site has now been secured, and the radio-active material there sealed in concrete. There is minimal likelihood of further looting. Initial indications are that there is little or no immediate radiation sickness evident in the population, but there may be longer term health risks to people who have been exposed to radiation. A task force has been set up in Baghdad to take forward action on recovering radio-active material that has been taken from the site, and monitoring the long-term health of people at risk of exposure to radiation. The task force includes representatives from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), Iraqi Ministry of Health and Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission, as well as the World Health Organisation.
The action taken by Greenpeace to replace the contaminated barrels with clean ones is welcome.
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his statement of 15 July 2003, on Iraq, what the source was of his statement that Saddam Hussein expelled UNSCOM inspectors at the end of 1998. [126905]
Mr. MacShane: Throughout 1998 Iraq maintained an increasingly obstructive attitude towards UNSCOM. Faced with mounting obstruction and harassment which made it impossible for them to carry out their mandate, UNSCOM had no alternative but to withdraw. They were thus effectively forced out of Iraq by Saddam Hussein's regime.
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