HL Deb 25 July 2002 vol 638 c110WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they agree with the recent report from the United States State Department that Iran is taking insufficient steps to counter trafficking in human beings. [HL5309]

Baroness Amos

The UK deplores the trafficking of people, wherever it occurs. We are actively engaged, in co-operation with partners, to combat the trade and the criminal organisations that profit from it. We support the rehabilitation of victims and, if appropriate, their return to their countries of origin. UK authorities have insufficient independent evidence to confirm or challenge the American assessment of the cases referred to in the State Department's report. But we and our EU partners take every appropriate opportunity to press the Iranian authorities over our concerns about human rights issues in Iran.