Results 1-20 of 513 for iraq speaker:Hilary Benn

Written Answers — International Development: Iraq: Reconstruction (25 Jun 2007)

Hilary Benn: Since March 2003, the UK Government have budgeted £744 million for the reconstruction and development of Iraq. Our contribution will help the Iraqi Government, at provincial and national level, to plan and deliver investment in basic services (electricity, hospitals, etc.), improve oil production, generate jobs and manage its own resources more effectively. DFID has committed over...

Written Answers — International Development: Asylum: Iraq (21 Jun 2007)

Hilary Benn: We are very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Iraq and the increasing numbers of people who have been displaced due to ongoing violence. DFID has not increased its presence in Syria, Jordan or Egypt in response to the refugee crisis. We continue to work closely with international humanitarian partners to ensure agencies are adequately resourced and equipped to respond to needs...

Written Answers — International Development: Iraq: Internally Displaced Persons (21 Jun 2007)

Hilary Benn: The most important thing that needs to happen in Iraq is an end to the spiralling violence responsible for the deteriorating humanitarian situation and increasing levels of displacement. The Government of Iraq have put dealing with security at the top of their agenda and we will continue to support them. Furthermore, it has primary responsibility to ensure the protection of its citizens. At...

Written Answers — International Development: Overseas Aid: Corruption (21 Jun 2007)

Hilary Benn: ... 2004-05 UK Payments intercepted in the mail. 2004-05 UK Staff member tried to re-sell DFID-funded travel tickets. 2004-05 Guyana NGO worker took unauthorised allowances. 2005-06 Iraq Over-claiming of project-related salaries. 2005-06 Nigeria Cash theft. 2005-06 Nepal Burglary. 2005-06 Iraq Loss of satellite telephone. 2005-06 Kenya Equipment...

Written Answers — International Development: Lebanon (13 Jun 2007)

Hilary Benn: The recent conflict and instability in Lebanon has not affected our bilateral programmes either in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) or in Iraq. DFID continues to monitor the situation and will react accordingly.

Written Answers — International Development: Iraq: Reconstruction (12 Jun 2007)

Hilary Benn: holding answer 11 June 2007 In close co-ordination with the FCO and MOD, DFID is responsible for the oversight of reconstruction projects in Iraq under the auspices of the International Development Act 2002. Our programme is managed from London with support from our offices in Baghdad and Basra. Our priority is to build the capacity of the Iraqi Government to manage and spend their own...

Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Iraq: International Assistance (11 Jun 2007)

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply. The international compact for Iraq (ICI) is an opportunity for the Government of Iraq to set out its economic and political priorities for the next five years, with the help of the United Nations and the international community. It will develop the key reforms necessary to enable Iraq to make the most of its own resources and build a strategy for longer-term...

Written Answers — International Development: Iraq: Internally Displaced Persons (7 Jun 2007)

Hilary Benn: ...in Geneva, the UK delegation consisted of senior officials from DFID, FCO and the Home Office. The conference was successful in drawing international attention to the plight of the displaced Iraqis inside Iraq and in the region, and recognising the burden this places on host communities and countries. The main outcome of the conference was the Government of Iraq's commitment to take the...

Written Answers — International Development: Iraq: Internally Displaced Persons (7 Jun 2007)

Hilary Benn: The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there are approximately 2 million Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Iraq. Over 820,000 of these have been displaced since February 2006 following the attack in Samarra. In 2007, DFID has provided £10 million to support humanitarian relief efforts to help vulnerable Iraqi groups, including those displaced in Iraq and across...

Bill Presented: Darfur (5 Jun 2007)

Hilary Benn: ...in which human beings have been killed, raped and forced to flee their homes because of what people in their own country—their Governments or other people—have done to them. Be it Iraq under Saddam; Afghanistan under the Taliban; Rwanda during the genocide; Sierra Leone, when the Revolutionary United Front and the "West Side Boys" were running around chopping people's arms and...

Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Iraq: Internally Displaced Persons (5 Jun 2007)

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply. We are very concerned about the increasing number of people displaced by the Iraq conflict. We are working closely with the UN and the Red Cross to ensure that humanitarian agencies are adequately resourced. In 2007, DFID has provided £10 million in support of humanitarian relief efforts to help vulnerable groups, including those displaced in Iraq and across...

Written Answers — International Development: Iraq: Asylum (10 May 2007)

Hilary Benn: We are in close touch with our partners and agencies about the situation regarding displaced Iraqis inside Iraq and in the region. In January, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) launched a $60 million appeal to address the influx of refugees into Iraq's neighbouring countries and the plight of displaced people inside Iraq (this is almost fully funded). The money will go towards the...

Written Answers — International Development: Iraq: Overseas Aid (10 May 2007)

Hilary Benn: DFID's assistance to internally displaced people (IDPs) in Iraq is currently channelled through internationally mandated organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). We are currently not funding any iternational NGOs, the Iraqi Government or UK military forces. In...

Written Answers — International Development: Iraq: Refugees (23 Apr 2007)

Hilary Benn: UN agencies estimate that some 1.9 million Iraqis are currently internally displaced and around 2 million others have fled to neighbouring countries. Statistics broken down by year are unavailable. We are very concerned about the increase in displacement and rising humanitarian needs resulting from ongoing sectarian violence. DFID continues to support the UN and other humanitarian agencies to...

Written Answers — Defence: Iraq: Hospitals (23 Apr 2007)

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply. DFID has given most of its assistance to the Iraqi health sector through financial contributions to international organisations that have particular expertise in health. For example, we have provided £70 million to the UN and World Bank trust funds for Iraq. At present, the trust funds are spending over $120 million to repair hospitals and train staff. There...

Written Answers — International Development: Iraq: Overseas Aid (29 Mar 2007)

Hilary Benn: Since 2003, DFID has spent the following amounts to improve electricity and water and sanitation in Iraq: £ million Electricity Water and Sanitation 2003-04 12.1 10.3 2004-05 6.2 1.6 2005/06 5.2 6.6 2006-07 8.2 3.3 In addition, DFID has contributed £70 million to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRRFI). This has financed...

[Mr. Eric Illsley in the Chair] — Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Reconstruction (22 Mar 2007)

Hilary Benn: ...I continue to reflect on the issue that he raised, because we need to ensure that we give our support in the right way in the right circumstances. The hon. Member for Edinburgh, West asked about Iraq. It is tough going there, as we know. Our contribution, as he will be aware, has specifically been on reconstruction, water and electricity in the south. Let me describe the real challenge in...

[Mr. Eric Illsley in the Chair] — Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Reconstruction (22 Mar 2007)

Hilary Benn: ...a result of his visit: there are still huge unmet needs in Burma. My last point is that when we draw back from the specific cases that we have raised today and think about the impact of conflict on Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Congo, Kosovo, Sudan and many other countries, we do not yet have an effective international system for protecting people from genocide, crimes...

Written Answers — International Development: Lebanon (22 Mar 2007)

Hilary Benn: ...approximately 20 per cent. of these funds will support Palestinians in Lebanon. The ripple-effect of conflict and instability in Lebanon holds significant risks for our bilateral programmes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Iraq. We therefore have an interest in addressing the causes of conflict in Lebanon and seeing a stable and prosperous state. In partnership with the Foreign...

Written Answers — International Development: Departments: Contracts (19 Mar 2007)

Hilary Benn: ...of our staff in high threat environments. ArmorGroup, Control Risks Group (CRG), and Kroll, have provided mobile security for DFID staff, consultants and static guarding for our compounds in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since June 2004, DFID's security needs in Iraq have been met by contracts managed and administered by the FCO. The following costs have been incurred by DFID: Cost to DFID...