§ 3 p.m.
§ Baroness Strange asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether the Commonwealth Group monitoring the elections in Bangladesh has ascertained that all the candidates standing are out of prison and able to canvass.
§ Lord ReayMy Lords, the Commonwealth and the British parliamentary observers have found the elections free and fair. Candidates under detention were not able to canvass in person, but their representatives canvassed on their behalf. Some of those under detention won seats.
§ Baroness StrangeMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that most satisfactory reply. However, is he aware that acting President Shahabuddim Ahmed of the Bangladesh Government specifically invited a British CPA team of investigators to monitor the election? Is he also aware that former Vice President Moudud was imprisoned and actually won his seat and that it is thought that he will now be released from prison? Is he further aware that the results of the election were that 140 seats were won by Begum Zia, 95 seats by the Awami League of Sheikh Hasima and 35 seats by the Jatiya Party of former President Ershad?
§ Lord ReayMy Lords, I shall start by dealing with my noble friend's first two questions. I am aware that a team of 12 Commonwealth observers attended the election, which included two British representatives, Mr. Roger Barltrop, the former British High Commissioner to Fiji, and Mr. George Foulkes, MP. We have; agreed to meet up to 30 per cent. of the costs incurred by the observer team. We believe that former Vice President Moudud is being held in Dhaka central gaol. We understand that he is being charged with corruption but that he has indeed been elected to parliament.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, while we warmly welcome the report that the elections in Bangladesh were free and fair, does the Minister agree that the need in that country is now for political and economic stability? Can he give the total amount of British aid to Bangladesh at present? Further, can he tell the House what support we are giving to the NGOs in the area?
§ Lord ReayMy Lords, we also welcome the fact that the elections were free and fair. Their successful organisation is a tribute to the interim government headed by acting President Shahabuddim Ahmed. Our aid to Bangladesh, which is one of the world's poorest countries, is substantial at over £50 million a year. It is all on grant terms and we expect to maintain it at that level.