10.3 |
Reconstruction: oil, commercial interests, debt relief, asylum and
stabilisation policy
companies
(in the interests of effectiveness and value for money) remains
negligible.
Nevertheless,
without participating in some form in the PMO, we may lose a
point
of influence.”
674.
Mr Lusty
provided advice to Mr O’Brien on 25 September on how TPUK
would
ensure that
procurement for Iraq’s reconstruction was transparent and created
a
level
playing field for UK companies.402
Mr Lusty
advised that, although the CPA’s
procurement
rules were “generally fair”, UK business remained concerned about
the
lack of
transparency and that the dominance of US personnel in the CPA
resulted in
a bias
towards US contractors.
“It has
been clear from our contacts with the Americans at all levels that
there will
be no
special favours for British business in bidding for reconstruction
work in Iraq.
We have
made it clear to UK firms that there is no inside track
…
“To
maximise UK business involvement in Iraq reconstruction, we must
ensure a
level
playing field for international businesses bidding for
reconstruction work from
the CPA and
from the US Government; and give British business a
competitive
advantage
through our [TPUK’s] own bilateral trade promotion
efforts.”
676.
To achieve
that, TPUK was:
•
“Sending a
… procurement expert back to the CPA asap.” The BTI
official
seconded to
ORHA/CPA in March (who had left at the end of June)
had
focused on
improving procurement by the Iraqi Ministries; President
Bush’s
announcement
of further, substantial funding for Iraq’s reconstruction and
the
creation of
the PMO had shifted the priority back to the CPA.
•
Identifying
public and private sector secondees for the PMO, in response
to
a request
from Rear Admiral (retired) David Nash, the Director of the
PMO.
677.
Mr Lusty
recommended that Mr O’Brien press the US for greater
transparency
in
procurement by the CPA and the US Government (especially the
Department of
Defense).
678.
The UK
Government seconded two consultants to the PMO; the first arrived
in
March
2004.
402
Minute
Lusty to PS/Mr O’Brien, 25 September 2003, ‘Iraq
Reconstruction: UK Company Involvement’.
475