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Dept for International Development

Answer

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 911W, on Iraq, whether his Department has undertaken research to assess whether cash payments to the poor and unemployed rise at a similar level as prices for food, in circumstances where cash payments have replaced food rationing; what assessment he has made of whether this will happen in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [215172] Hilary Benn: DFID has not undertaken research specifically into the issue referred to in the question. DFID is at present researching best practice towards social welfare protection measures generally in developing countries, and aims to produce a policy paper in October 2005. In Iraq, DFID is providing technical assistance to help prepare for future decisions by the Iraqi Government on the reform of the public distribution system for food. Our aim is to enable the Iraqi Government to establish a welfare system targeted at the poor and unemployed, which ensures that families in need are properly supported while removing the economic distortions and inefficiency created by the present system. The actual levels of cash welfare payments at any time will be for the Iraqi Government to decide in view of prevailing circumstances.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

430 c1641-2W; 215172

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Iraq Increases Food Payments Prices Research Social security Food insecurity

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk