Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq
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House of Commons

This page contains a list of occasions when Iraq was discussed in the UK's House of Commons. We hope to annotate this list more fully in time. This resource was assembled by Hannah Condry, to whom our thanks go. It is being updated by Glen Rangwala, who would greatly appreciate any offers of help in this regard.

Debates | Written Answers

House of Commons: Debates

2002

12 Mar 2002: Iraq, War on Terrorism and the Middle East

Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary (backed by Michael Ancram, Ben Bradshaw and Lorna Fitzsimons) claims Iraq poses a severe threat to international peace and security, claiming a breach of 23 obligations imposed by the Security Council; and refers to Russian agreement over targeted sanctions. David Heath, Ann Clwyd, Douglas Hogg, David Winnick, Menzies Campbell, Malcolm Savidge, Tam Dalyell and Derek Foster indicate some disquiet over military action.

6 Mar 2002: Iraq

Tam Dalyell, Alice Mahon, James Wray and George Galloway make the case against bombing. Diane Abbott and Ann Cryer speak about the effect of any such war on Britain's Muslim community. Alan Simpson discusses the lack of attention paid to diplomacy. George Howarth (and more cautiously, Alan Duncan) indicates support for an attack on Iraq, based on its alleged possession of non-conventional weapons. Mike Gapes defends an approach based on SCR1284. Alistair Carmichael argues other conflicts involving the Muslim world need to be addressed before Iraq, and a UN mandate sought. Menzies Campbell points to the dangers in launching a war, but portrays the solution in terms of SCR1284. Ben Bradshaw (junior foreign office minister) claims that the ceasefire concluded with Iraq at the end of the Gulf War is no longer valid, and so there is no legal prohibition on attacking Iraq.

15 Jan 2002: the Middle East

Mohammad Sarwar speaks of the failure of sanctions on Iraq. Alan Duncan speaks on confronting Saddam Hussein, but also on the role of Iraq in counterbalancing Iran.

8 Jan 2002: Iraq (Weapons Inspection)

Denis MacShane (junior foreign office minister) acknowledges that there is no evidence to link Iraq with September 11, and claims the UK is ensuring that sanctions do not harm the Iraqi people.

2001

12 Dec 2001: International Terrorism

Michael Ancram, shadow foreign secretary, calls for a tougher stance towards Iraq. Menzies Campbell cautions against military action without proof of Iraqi involvement in the September 11 tragedy (and is supported by Donald Anderson in this), but also calls the current strategy towards Iraq "effective", whilst acknowledging the grievous suffering under the sanctions regime.

5 Dec 2001: Middle East

Jack Straw, foreign secretary, speaks on the "enhanced sanctions regime" on Iraq that Russia has agreed to in the Security Council.

27 Nov 2001: Coalition against Terror

Menzies Campbell cautions against military action without proof of Iraqi involvement in the September 11 tragedy. Foreign Office Minister Ben Bradshaw refuses to be drawn.

16 Oct 2001: Coalition against International Terrorism

Menzies Campbell (supported by Vernon Coaker) cautions against military action without proof of Iraqi involvement in the September 11 tragedy. Michael Clapham calls for a dialogue with Iraq, and an end to the bombing of Iraq.

8 Oct 2001: Coalition against International Terrorism

Mohammad Sarwar calls for the UK to rethink its policy on sanctions on Iraq. John McDonnell argues that extending the war on terrorism into Iraq would destabilise the Middle East. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown also cautions against military action on Iraq. John Austin speaks on the perception in the Muslim world that children are dying in Iraq because of sanctions, and indicates that he partially agrees.

4 Oct 2001: International Terrorism

Alice Mahon mentions that the UK has alienated millions of Muslims because of its "cruel policy" of sanctions on and bombing of Iraq. Tony Lloyd speaks on the lack of success of the UK's Iraq policy. Henry Bellingham speaks on the bitterness that young Iraqis feel towards the British because of sanctions. Tam Dalyell calls for dialogue with the Iraqi government. David Tredinnick acknowledges that another look is needed on Iraq. Donald Anderson supports the UK's "smart sanctions" proposal.

14 Sept 2001: International Terrorism and Attacks in the USA

Tam Dalyell speaks on how sanctions have made a generation in Iraq loathe the US and UK.

9 July 2001: Iraq

George Galloway asks about UK military action in the proclaimed no-fly zones, and Iraqi casualties. Geoffrey Hoon, Defence Secretary, blames Saddam Hussein for any deaths.

22 June 2001: Foreign Affairs and Defence

Menzies Campbell questions the legal basis of the proclaimed no-fly zones, and reports of casualties. Geoffrey Hoon, Defence Secretary, confirms accidental bombing of a populated area and blames Saddam Hussein for any deaths. Quentin Davies offers Conservative support to the Government on Iraq.

27 March 2001: Middle East

Ann Clwyd asks about the recent visit of a "senior Iraqi official" to the UK. Foreign Office Minister Brian Wilson identifies the visitor as the president of the Council of Technical Colleges in Iraq, and states that there is no policy of sanctions against educational materials.

15 March 2001: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Debate on report of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Weapons of Mass Destruction. Menzies Campbell, foreign affairs spokesman of the Liberal Democrats, makes the case for the lifting of non-military sanctions on Iraq, coupled with an effective containment policy. Brian Wilson replies on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capacity. Richard Spring and John Wilkinson speak on the threat of Iraq.

27 February 2001: Iraq

Bill Michie urges the government to make further attempts to break the deadlock with Iraq. Menzies Campbell speaks of the need for a full review of policy towards Iraq. Diane Abbott mentions the two resigned UN humanitarian coordinators for Iraq. Foreign Office Minister Brian Wilson explains that the UK policy is not to hurt the Iraqi people but to confront the regime to prevent it from developing weapons of mass destruction; and mentions unspent Iraqi funds. Tom King speaks of repression in Iraq. Steve McCabe alleges an Indian company is breaching sanctions.

26 February 2001: Iraq (No-fly Zones)

Statement by Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon, justifying no-fly zones as a means "to prevent a grave humanitarian crisis", and attempts to provide a legal basis to the zones. He is supported by Gerald Kaufman and Caroline Flint. Shadow Defence Secretary Iain Duncan Smith supports UK policy, and argues that it would be legitimate to bomb outside the zones too (supported by Andrew Robathan). Tony Benn (supported by Alice Mahon) claims that civilian casualties would be victims of "international terrorism, if not war crimes". Menzies Campbell (supported by Nicholas Soames and Jeremy Corbyn) also questions the legal basis of the zones, and calls for lifting non-military sanctions. Tam Dalyell reports on opposition in the Middle East to sanctions and bombing; similar concerns are voiced by Julian Brazier, Martin Bell, Phyllis Starkey, Robert Wareing, Alex Salmond, Crispin Blunt and Neil Gerrard. Douglas Hogg (former Foreign Office minister at the time of the Gulf War) supports the no-fly zones, but argues that sanctions "have substantially damaged the people of Iraq" and need reforming; Ann Clwyd also calls for smarter sanctions. Dale Campbell-Savours argues that stricter enforcement of sanctions is necessary; David Madel makes a similar point. Andrew Miller speaks on the need for an inspection regime.

10 January 2001: USA

George Galloway extensively denounces the sanctions on and bombing of Iraq. Foreign Office Minister John Battle defends policy in terms of SCR1284.

2000

11 Dec 2000: Foreign Affairs and Defence

Menzies Campbell argues that sanctions have produced poverty and malnutrition in Iraq; and proposes a policy of military containment instead. Harry Cohen dissents from government policy over Iraq on sanctions and no-fly zones, focusing on the bar of foreign direct investment and the practices of the sanctions committee. Ann Clwyd concentrates on the campaign to indict Saddam Hussein.

22 Nov 2000: Iraq

Dr. Norman A. Godman and Tony Blair, Prime Minister, debate the case for the suspension of sanctions. Mr Blair defends sanctions in terms of Iraq's attempts to develop weapons of mass destruction, and alleges mis-spending of Iraqi financial resources.

7 Nov 2000: Iraq

Donald Anderson, Steve McCabe, Peter Hain, Menzies Campbell, David Madell, debate the humanitarian impact of sanctions, and their effectiveness in achieving their stated aims. Hain defends a solution based on SCR1284. McCabe and Campbell argue that sanctions cause suffering to innocent people. Harry Barnes and Richard Spring make supplementary points on general human rights and Kuwaiti prisoners of war respectively.

29 Jun 2000 (pt 1): Sanctions

Debate on the second report of the International Development Committee on sanctions and the government's response. Mr Bowen Wells makes the case at length for the ineffectiveness of sanctions on Iraq and is backed by Oona King; Ann Clwyd and Andrew Robathan express disagreement, and Nigel Jones argues the case for smart sanctions on Iraq. Tony Worthington, Glenda Jackson and Richard Spring speak on the nature of "smart sanctions" in general. Peter Hain defends sanctions because they "are the only coercive measure available to us, other than the use of force".

22 May 2000 (pt 54): Serbia and Iraq (Sanctions)

Debate introduced by Tam Dalyell (supported by Robert Marshall-Andrews), seeking to dispel government arguments for sanctions. Peter Hain defends sanctions on Iraq and proposes that the solution must lie in SCR 1284.

24 Mar 2000: Iraq

Debate introduced by Tam Dalyell (supported by Tony Benn and Harry Cohen). Peter Hain defends sanctions on Iraq and proposes that the solution must lie in SCR 1284.

8 Feb 2000: Iraq

Tam Dalyell speaks on the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. Peter Hain replies on Iraq's non-compliance with SCR 687, the Iraqi government's human rights record and Iraq's misuse of the resources provided through the "oil-for-food" programme.

House of Commons: Written Answers

2002

2 May 2002: Iraq

Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, answers a question by David Taylor about unaccounted stocks of Iraqi precursor chemicals, chemical agents and special munitions, using Unscom data.

2000

22 Nov 2000: Iraq

Geoffrey Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence, answers a question by Menzies Campbell about the weapons used by the UK in the purported "no fly zones".

16 Nov 2000: Iraq

Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, answers a question by Sir Teddy Taylor: about "the total list of holds imposed by the UK on humanitarian goods for Iraq on 1 November".

14 Nov 2000: Iraq

Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, answers a question by Sir Sydney Chapman about "the value of humanitarian goods the UN Sanctions Committee is currently holding back from delivery to Iraq".

13 Nov 2000: Iraq

Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, answers questions by Sir Sydney Chapman on "the Government's policy on the UN arrangements to ensure that goods imported into Iraq under the oil-for-food scheme are for the agreed purposes" and on "what estimate he has made of the number of children in Iraq who are chronically malnourished".

1 Nov 2000: Iraq

Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, answers a question by Dr. Julian Lewis, about "Iraq's access to weapons of mass destruction".

1 Nov 2000: Iraq

Tony Blair, Prime Minister, answers a question by Tam Dalyell on "the effectiveness of UN sanctions against Iraq, with particular reference to the impact of sanctions on the children of Iraq".

30 Oct 2000: Iraq

Geoffrey Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence, answers a question by Dale Campbell-Savours on the enforcement of sanctions.

25 Oct 2000: Iraq

Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, answers a question by Ann Clwyd. NOTE: in the second sentence of Clare Short's statement, 'Iraq' should probably be substituted for 'northern Iraq' or 'the Kurdish Autonomous Region'.

18 Jul 2000 (pt 1): Electronic Test Facility

18 Jul 2000 (pt 12): Iraq

5 Jul 2000 (pt 12): Iraq

3 Jul 2000 (pt 2): Serbia/Iraq Trade

27 Jun 2000 (pt 4): Entry Clearance Interviews

27 Jun 2000 (pt 4): Iraq

23 Jun 2000 (pt 3): Sanctions (Iraq)

18 May 2000 (pt 10): Iraq

17 May 2000 (pt 9): Sanctions

8 May 2000 (pt 1): Intergovernmental Conference

5 May 2000 (pt 7): Iraq

3 May 2000 (pt 7): Iraq

2 May 2000 (pt 19)

17 Apr 2000 (pt 22)

30 Mar 2000 (pt 17): Iraq

21 Mar 2000 (pt 5): Iraq

14 Mar 2000 (pt 13): Iraq

13 Mar 2000 (pt 11): Farmed

10 Mar 2000 (pt 14): Iraq

21 Feb 2000 (pt 41): Sanctions Policy

16 Feb 2000 (pt 8): Iraq

15 Feb 2000 (pt 9):Iraq

2 Feb 2000 (pt 12): Iraq

13 Jan 2000 (pt 4)

1999

(21 Dec 1999) 21 Dec 1999 (pt 2) TUPE Regulations

(1 Dec 1999) 1 Dec 1999 (pt 14) Engagements

(2 Nov 1999) 2 Nov 1999 (pt 14) OSCE Progress Report

(27 Jul 1999) 27 Jul 1999 (pt 59) Iraq (Sanctions)

(20 Jul 1999) 20 Jul 1999 (pt 16)

(12 Jul 1999) 12 Jul 1999 (pt 15) Jordan

29 Jun 1999) 29 Jun 1999 (pt 6)

(19 May 1999) 19 May 1999 (pt 5)

(5 May 1999) 5 May 1999 (pt 13)

(26 Apr 1999) 26 Apr 1999 (pt 3) Atomic Weapons Establishment Sites

(20 Apr 1999) 20 Apr 1999 (pt 11) Iraq

(14 Apr 1999) 14 Apr 1999 (pt 7) Human Rights

(18 Mar 1999) 18 Mar 1999 (pt 14) Iraq

(17 Mar 1999) 17 Mar 1999 (pt 8) Kosovo

(16 Feb 1999) 16 Feb 1999 (pt 37) Middle East Peace Process

20 Jan 1999 (pt 16) British Diplomats (Freetown Officials)

1998

16 Dec 1998 (pt 5) Iraq

1 Dec 1998 (pt 3) Cabinet Committee

19 Nov 1998 (pt 12) Iraq

18 Nov 1998 (pt 17) Iraq

5 May 1998 (pt 22)

(1 Apr 1998) 1 Apr 1998 (pt 13)

(25 Mar 1998) 25 Mar 1998 (pt 3)

23 Mar 1998 (pt 3)

(19 Mar 1998) 19 Mar 1998 (pt 3)

16 Mar 1998 (pt 16) Iraq

5 Mar 1998 (pt 15) Office

3 Mar 1998 (pt 1) Iraq

25 Feb 1998 (pt 6) Iraq

10 Feb 1998 (pt 10) Iraq

1997

15 Jul 1997 (pt 3) Iraq (Sanctions)

13 Feb 1997 (pt 6) Prohibited Weapons (Export)

31 Jan 1997 (pt 13)

30 Jan 1997 (pt 11)

29 Jan 1997 (pt 6)

1996

11 Mar 1996 (pt 11) Libya and Iraq (Sanctions)

6 Mar 1996 (pt 3) Arms Exports

5 Mar 1996 (pt 18) Iraq

1995

22 Nov 1995 (pt 5) Exports

(27 Oct 1995) 27 Oct 1995 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

(20 Oct 1995) 20 Oct 1995 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

(18 Jul 1995) 18 Jul 1995 TRANSPORT

(17 Jul 1995) 17 Jul 1995 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

(14 Jul 1995) 14 Jul 1995 TRADE AND INDUSTRY

(12 Jul 1995) 12 Jul 1995 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

(5 Jul 1995) 5 Jul 1995 TRADE AND INDUSTRY

(25 Apr 1995) 25 Apr 1995 DEFENCE

(18 Apr 1995) 18 Apr 1995 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

(18 Apr 1995) 18 Apr 1995 TRADE AND INDUSTRY

(29 Mar 1995) 29 Mar 1995 OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

15 Mar 1995 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

7 Mar 1995: Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

Tam Dalyell asks Mr Douglas Hogg about international opposition to sanctions on Iraq; Mr Hogg replies by pushing for Iraqi acceptance of the "oil-for-food" programme.

(2 Mar 1995) 2 Mar 1995 TRADE AND INDUSTRY

(1 Mar 1995) 1 Mar 1995 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

(23 Feb 1995) 23 Feb 1995 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

(15 Feb 1995) 15 Feb 1995 TRADE AND INDUSTRY

1 Feb 1995 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

(25 Jan 1995) 25 Jan 1995 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs