§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to work with other countries to block the sale on the world market of diamonds illegally mined in Sierra Leone. [121833]
§ Mr. HainWe have taken a leading role internationally in arguing for measures to improve the transparency of the international diamond trade and prevent the proceeds from illicit diamond trading fuelling conflict, including in Sierra Leone. In doing so, we have consulted a number of countries in Africa and elsewhere. At the forthcoming meeting of G8 Foreign Ministers we will be pressing for 31W agreement on further steps, including consideration of an international system to keep such diamonds out of the market.