§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the first annual human rights report from(a) foreign Governments and (b) British non-Governmental organisations. [42396]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe report has been widely welcomed. Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has written that she believes,
it is a marvellous initiative by the Government",Amnesty International stated publicly that they weredelighted at the publication of the first such report".It quoted David Bull, a Director as saying,This is a good day for human rights".The response of NGOs has been generally positive.My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has received no formal representations about the report.