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The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
588.  In November 2003, FCO officials started to consider additional incentives to attract
the growing number of volunteers needed to fill civilian roles in Iraq and to be able to
replace them every few months for the foreseeable future.
589.  On 3 November 2003, the IOU informed Sir Michael Jay that civil service
secondees in Iraq received allowances worth about £1,500 a month, depending
on grade.387 By comparison, FCO and DFID contractors earned up to £1,000 a day.
The IOU advised:
“There is no sign, yet, that money is a significant factor in finding civil service
volunteers for Iraq. But we may have to consider some improvement in the financial
terms if we find it increasingly difficult to recruit the civil service staff we need over
the next few months.”
590.  DFID’s November 2004 ‘Guide to Overseas Terms and Conditions for Long‑term
Assignments in Iraq’ explained:
“DFID’s work in Iraq is very high profile and has assumed major corporate
importance. Working in Iraq is dangerous and the conditions are difficult. We need
staff with appropriate skills, e.g. programme management, and a high degree of
self‑motivation to carry out this work. So, we have devised a package of allowances
and benefits specifically to attract such people and meet their needs.” 388
591.  The details provided covered financial, travel and leave entitlements, health care,
insurance, accommodation and security.”
592.  Hardship allowances for Iraq were said to be high compared with other countries,
at £26,900 per annum in November 2004.
593.  Participants at the Inquiry’s civilian outreach event who served in Iraq between
mid‑2004 and mid‑2007 viewed the financial package available to civilians positively,
but expressed some resentment towards “overpaid” private sector contractors on
“extraordinary” daily rates.
594.  In 2003 the FCO introduced the “Golden Ticket” for staff deployed to Iraq for three
months or longer.389 The Golden Ticket gave the holder priority over other applicants
when applying for their next job. It remained valid until a substantive job was secured.
595.  The November 2004 text of the standard letter issued to FCO staff posted to
diplomatic missions in Iraq stated: “HR and the wider Office value the contribution
you have made, and we hope that this will go some way to recognising that.” 390 It also
387  Minute Parham to PS/PUS, 3 November 2003, ‘Iraq: Civilian Staffing’.
388  Paper DFID, 1 November 2004, ‘Working for DFID: Guide to Overseas Terms and Conditions for
Long‑term Assignments in Iraq’.
389  Paper Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 25 October 2004, ‘Iraq Pre‑Deployment Brief’.
390  Letter [FCO junior official], 17 November 2004, ‘Posting to British Diplomatic Missions in Iraq’.
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