§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions(a) her Department and (b) representatives of the Government has had with (i) local communities, (ii) members and representatives of the Government of the Philippines and (iii) non-governmental organisations concerning the activities of UK companies in the mountains of Zamboanga del Norte in the Philippines since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [136937]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThere has been some routine contact with local officials and organisations in Zamboanga City, as elsewhere in the Philippines, on general economic issues. However, officials at the British embassy in Manila have no current knowledge of UK firms with commercial interests or activities in the mountains of Zamboanga del Norte.
The FCO currently advises against all travel to central, southern, and western Mindanao, where the threat of terrorism and kidnapping in the Philippines is greatest. The mountains of Zamboanga del Norte are within this region.