6.5 |
Planning and preparation for a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, January to
March 2003
286.
Ms Short
informed Mr Blair on 5 February that, “after a slow start”,
DFID was
“getting
real co-operation” from the MOD, FCO and Cabinet
Office.143
It was
involved
in drafting
military campaign objectives and was experiencing more co-operation
from
UN agencies
and the US. Ms Short reported that she had approved a limited
number of
DFID
secondments to UK and US military planning units.
287.
Ms Short
stated that the main outstanding issue was the scale of the
UK
contribution
to the humanitarian and reconstruction effort in Iraq. A “fair
share” would
be about
5.6 percent of the total, equivalent to the UK share of OECD gross
national
income, and
would amount to approximately £440m a year for three years. It was
for
Mr Blair
to decide whether he thought the UK should make a “modest”
contribution along
those
lines, or “aim higher”. If so, it would need to be an effort on
behalf of the whole
government,
not just DFID.
“I think
the way in which you could best help is to make clear across the
system that
you want
humanitarian considerations to be given more weight. In addition it
would
help if we
could settle the financial questions.”
289.
The same day,
Mr Lee sent Mr Hoon a request from Ms Short to be briefed
by
MOD
officials on the planned military campaign. The request was for Ms
Short to be
briefed “on
similar lines” to Mr Straw and Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney
General.144
Mr Lee
debated whether the briefing should focus on post-conflict issues,
but concluded:
“As full
and frank a briefing within the constraints of operational security
will be a key
element in
achieving a joined up approach and help build on the good
relationships
we have set
up over the last few weeks.” He also advised that No.10 had asked
to be
consulted
on the terms of any briefing for Ms Short.
290.
Mr Martyn
Williams, Mr Hoon’s Private Secretary, asked: “Doctrinally
pure advice
on
involving DFID SofS [Secretary of State]. Are you happy for me to
consult No.10?”145
291.
Mr Hoon
agreed to the proposal.146
292.
The Inquiry
has seen no record of No.10 approving the briefing for Ms Short,
which
took place
on 12 February.
293.
Mr Annan
told the press on 5 February that there was no agreement on
the
post-conflict
role of the UN.
143
Letter
Short to Blair, 5 February 2003, ‘Iraq: Humanitarian
Planning’.
144
Minute Lee
to PS/Secretary of State [MOD], 5 February 2003, ‘Iraq: Briefing
the international
development
secretary’.
145
Manuscript
comment to SofS [MOD] on Minute Lee to PS/Secretary of State [MOD],
5 February 2003,
‘Iraq:
Briefing the international development secretary’.
146
Manuscript
comment Hoon, 6 February 2003, on Minute Lee to PS/Secretary of
State [MOD],
5 February
2003, ‘Iraq: Briefing the international development
secretary’.
361