To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2007, Official Report, columns 1039-40W, on Iraq: oil, whether he takes into account maximising the revenues for central government in Iraq when urging Iraqi Ministers and officials to consider the benefit of a broad range of contract types. (172028)

We have not taken account of maximising revenues when providing advice to the Government of Iraq. That is a sovereign matter for the Iraqis. UK advice has focused on the need to consider a range of oil contract options, consistent with international best practice, to meet the varied conditions and circumstances in Iraq.