asked Her Majesty’s Government:

How much financial aid has been given in the past 12 months to refugees caused by the Iraqi conflict.

My Lords, we are concerned about the increasing number of people displaced by the Iraq conflict. The Department for International Development has provided £10 million to assist internally and externally displaced Iraqis and other vulnerable groups in 2007. That includes a contribution of £1.5 million to the appeal by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to address the influx of displaced Iraqis into neighbouring countries.

My Lords, I welcome that contribution, but is it not a fact that around 4 million Iraqis have been displaced by the conflict there, including 2 million who are refugees in neighbouring countries such as Syria and Jordan? Given the scale of this human crisis and given that since the beginning of the conflict spending by Britain on military operations has been over £5 billion, does the Minister believe that we are doing enough to help those who have been made refugees?

My Lords, the noble Lord’s figures are entirely accurate. He will know that part of the issue with respect to NGOs and others operating in Iraq is security. We have contributed generously to UN and other appeals, and we will continue to keep that under review.

My Lords, if the total amount we gave in the past year was £10 million and we are talking about 4 million refugees, internal and external, that is £2.50 each. Can we look to the Government to be a little more generous in the next year?

My Lords, we have contributed some £744 million since the conflict started in 2003, but I was asked a specific question with respect to the past year. The UN and other appeals to which we have contributed all look not just to the UK but to other countries to make a contribution. Part of the amount that those organisations are able to spend on the ground also depends on the security situation there. The House also needs to appreciate that the Iraqi Government themselves are now putting resources into developing basic services in Iraq.

My Lords, should not the UK, with the United States, take far greater responsibility for the refugees now desperately trying to flee Iraq—those who can get out? Does the Minister think that the amount that she mentioned, which is one-60th of what the UNHCR is asking for, is likely in any way to prevent instability in the region? Why have the 100 or so Iraqis who have left that country and fled to Syria and Jordan who fear for their lives because they helped the British forces not been given asylum?

My Lords, the noble Baroness asked me about three different things. I understand that the UNHCR appeal is now fully funded. If that is not the case, I am happy to write to the noble Baroness, but that was an appeal for about £60 million.

The issue of refugees displaced in other countries, some of whom worked for the United Kingdom Government, was the subject of an earlier Question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Fowler. I made clear to the House then that we look at all these issues on a case-by-case basis. Given the strength of feeling in the House on that occasion, I went back to the Home Office to get further information. Data are not centrally collated with respect to the origin of the asylum claims. The majority of asylum claims from Iraq come from Iraqis within the United Kingdom, rather than outside, but I have been assured that, were people to present having worked for the United Kingdom and were the other circumstances to mean that they would qualify for refugee status in the United Kingdom, of course that would apply.

In giving such a long second answer, I fear that I have forgotten the third question that the noble Baroness asked me.

My Lords, should we not be concentrating more of our resource on funding the International Committee of the Red Cross, because it has more credibility, having partners within Iraq, than many of the UN agencies, which have simply been discredited following the Oil for Food programme scandal?

My Lords, we contributed about £7 million to the ICRC. It appealed for $75.5 million to provide emergency assistance to vulnerable people, including internally displaced people. I understand that the appeal has so far raised $21 million.

My Lords, Kuwait has refused to accept any refugees from Iraq since the invasion of that country in 2003. What discussions are the Government having with Kuwait to encourage it to do more to help the international effort to help displaced Iraqis?

My Lords, there are a number of issues between Iraq and neighbouring countries. We have talked not only to Kuwait but to other countries in the region, because it is extremely important for the neighbouring countries to do all that they can to support the fledgling Iraqi Government. I must also say to the House that those displaced persons are putting a huge burden on already fragile communities in some of those countries.

My Lords, is it not the case that neither Syria nor Jordan are members of the UN Convention on Refugees? Does that not place greater responsibilities on outside states, especially the United States? Will Her Majesty's Government bear in mind what we owe to Iraqi refugees who have previously helped British forces?

My Lords, outside states do of course have a responsibility but, as we have seen in other parts of the world where there is conflict, refugees tend to flee to neighbouring countries first rather than to countries further afield. My understanding is that the United States is looking at accepting about 7,000 Iraqis under its longer term programme. If that figure is incorrect, I will write to noble Lords and put a copy of the letter into the Library of the House.

My Lords, does the Minister agree that Jordan is not only one of our closest allies in the Middle East but that its stability is crucial to middle-eastern strategy? Will she therefore consider the possibility of a discussion between the United Kingdom Government and Jordan, which have been very close allies for a long time, on the best way in which we can help Jordan to deal with its huge inflow of refugees? Secondly, on her very helpful answer to my noble friend Lady Northover, will she agree to keep a very close eye on the bureaucratic systems of the Home Office, which, to be frank, can stand in the way of people with a genuine need to come to this country because they have helped the British Government during the Iraq war, to enable them to be sure that they can look for safety in this country if they are already in danger?

My Lords, one of our responsibilities towards neighbouring countries is to try to lessen the tension that has been building up in them as a result of refugees fleeing into them. Jordan remains very important in that regard, and we will continue to talk to it, to Kuwait and to other countries in the region. The Home Office must try to get the balance right between having a system that is robust but that can take on board the many different circumstances that exist in different parts of the world. That is why it works with up-to-date, country-specific data, to enable it to take the right decisions in these cases.