Iraq: Oil

Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has consulted major UK oil companies on contracts for them in Iraq.

Meg Munn
The Government have not held discussions on oil contracts in Iraq with any major British oil companies.

Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when officials from his Department first received a copy of the draft Iraqi oil law.

Meg Munn
Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials first obtained a copy of a draft of the hydrocarbons law at the end of October 2006.