HC Deb 08 March 2004 vol 418 cc1298-9W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will instruct the England and Wales Cricket Board not to proceed with its planned tour of Zimbabwe this year. [159231]

Mr. Caborn

The decision to tour in Zimbabwe is entirely a matter for the ECB. There are no powers for the Government to intervene in any way. However, because of the deteriorating political and human rights situation in the country, I do not support the tour, in the same way that I would not support any activity capable of being used by the Mugabe regime for propaganda purposes.