Concern about back room decisions on Iraqis oil rights: UK MPs
Iraq-UK, Politics, 3/26/2007

An all-party group of British MPs have expressed concern about the involvement by the UK government in drafting Iraqi new oil laws.

"Decisions on the Iraqi oil industry should be made by the Iraqi people without outside interference," the MPs, led by Labor backbencher Katy Clark said in an Early Day Motion to parliament.

The motion, which has so far received the support of 26 MPs, warns that Iraq's economy is "heavily dependent on oil and that decisions about the future of Iraq's oil industry will have a major bearing on that country." It said it was concerned that the "British Government, in its involvement in the drafting of Iraq's new oil laws, has sought the views of international oil companies regarding the possible types of contracts that the Iraqi government should offer."

"The constitution of Iraq states that oil and gas are owned by all the people of Iraq," the MPs said in the motion used to highlight issues that do not find time for general debate in parliament.

They said they were calling of the British government to disclose to the House of Commons "all representations it has made in relation to the oil law."

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