§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations1172W the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to his Department. [56452]
§ Mr. StrawAll advisory and executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) are required to adopt a board members' code, based on guidance produced by the Cabinet Office, and they should have registers of interests. The definition of interests is ultimately for individual Departments since they are best placed to decide what might be thought to influence members of their NDPBs.
The following table lists the NDPBs sponsored by this Department and in each cases indicates what the relevant code of practice is and where it is available.
the Government have made to the Government of Pakistan on the protection of women's rights. [58342]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe and our EU partners regularly raise our human rights concerns, including women's rights issues, with the Pakistan authorities. The Government of Pakistan have made progress over the last year in addressing the position of women through electoral reform and their National Commission on the Status of Women. We support these steps and are supporting Pakistani women's groups in their campaigns to promote women's rights within the existing Islamic legal framework.
The EU Human Rights Group takes a close interest in human rights development in Pakistan. The Group is currently considering what further action they should take.