CANCELLATION OF IRAQ'S DEBT

Early day motion 1066, tabled 14 April 2003 by Mark Field (Conservative). Signed by 40 members.

That this House notes that Saddam Hussein's regime accumulated almost $400bn of debt and reparations claims; believes that these are 'odious' since the regime was oppressive and illegitimate; welcomes the Jubilee Iraq call for cancellation of these financial obligations so that the liberated Iraqi people are not made to pay the bill for the wars and oppression they suffered after Saddam; would also encourage a reciprocal cancellation by the future democratic government of Iraq of debts owed to Iraq by other highly indebted poor countries; and urges Her Majesty's Government to use all its influence in the Coalition and with creditors to ensure that none of Saddam Hussein's financial obligations pass on to the soon-to-be-formed democratic government of Iraq, in line with the Prime Minister's promises to the Iraqi people of freedom and renewed prosperity.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Liberal Democrat 10, Conservative 5, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 2.