Q&A - Oil for Food

The programme (OFF) was a $60 billion (£32 billion) United Nations scheme set up in 1996 to allow Iraq to buy food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies with the proceeds of oil sales.
It was meant to help the country's poor without breaking UN sanctions imposed after the first Gulf War. It was formally ended after the toppling of Saddam Hussein.

What is the scandal attached to it?

Early last year an Iraqi newspaper published a list of 270 people including UN officials, politicians and companies it alleged may have profited from the illicit sale of Iraqi oil during the OFF programme. US senate investigators claimed Saddam made $17. 3 billion from abuses, including $4 billion from kickbacks from companies involved.
A high-level UN panel is still investigating the allegations. The Iraqi interim government and the US senate have launched their own inquiries and the US justice department has set up a criminal investigation.
Only one man has pleaded guilty so far.

What are oil allocations?

Effectively vouchers which give recipients the right to sell barrels of oil under the scheme. It has been estimated that the average mark-up on a $26 barrel was about 30 cents.

Who is making the new allegations?

The US senate's sub-committee on investigations, part of the committee on homeland security and government affairs. Its chairman is Norm Coleman, a Republican senator.

What is new about these claims?

The Daily Telegraph was successfully sued for libel by Mr Galloway last year for making claims about his involvement in oil allocations. But whereas the Telegraph relied on what it said were documents from the Iraqi foreign ministry, today's report by the US senate sub-committee on investigations relies on alleged documents from the Iraqi oil ministry.
It also quotes testimony from Taha Yassin Ramadan, the ousted vice-president of Iraq, and unnamed sources.

Could the allegations lead to a by-election in Bethnal Green and Bow?

Given Mr Galloway's strenuous denials, it is unlikely that a byelection will take place.
He could only be forced to vacate the seat if declared bankrupt or jailed for any offence.