§ The Minister for Housing and Planning (Sir George Young)
None, Sir, on both counts.
§ Mr. Dalyell
That distinguished scholar Dr. Jacob Saki suggested on Radio 4 on Sunday that damage to Najaf and Karbala in particular, and at other Shi'ite shrines, could create the situation in which Iran would go to the aid of Iraq. Is not the bombing inhuman and counter-productive —and is not it perceived as such from Morocco right down to Malaysia? Should not all bombing be stopped forthwith?
§ Sir George Young
Before I answer the hon. Gentleman's question, I should tell the House that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment cannot be present in the House today as he is representing the United Kingdom at a meeting of Environment Ministers in Paris.
So far, there is no firm evidence of damage done to Iraq, although there is speculation about two buildings in Baghdad. Iraq has caused substantial damage by the wholesale looting of the national museum in Kuwait City, 924 and it inflicted considerable damage on Iran during the Iraq-Iran war. As to the hon. Gentleman's substantive point, he may recall that on 21 January, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said thatVery clear instructions have gone to our troops to avoid sites of religious and cultural interest."—[Official Report, 21 January 1991; Vol. 184, c. 26.]
§ Mr. Adley
Is my hon. Friend the Minister aware that about the only thing that many of us admire about the hon. Gentleman's question is his ability to persuade the Table Office to put it on the Order Paper? Will my hon. Friend thank English Heritage for the help that it extended to Highcliffe castle in Dorset, and if that organisation has any spare funds, will he suggest that that site of historic interest is a more appropriate focus of English Heritage's attention and funds?
§ Sir George Young
It would certainly be cheaper for English Heritage officials to visit my hon. Friend's constituency than the middle east. I am grateful for his kind comments about the assistance that English Heritage extended to his constituency.