§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made with the establishment of a global certification scheme for rough diamonds. [56666]
§ Mr. MacShaneGovernment, industry and civil society negotiators drawing up the international certification scheme for rough diamonds (the Kimberley Process) have agreed on nearly all outstanding issues. The scheme is designed to ensure a Government-issued certificate attesting to the legitimacy of the contents accompanies each shipment of rough diamonds. The intention is to implement the scheme by the end of 2002, at a date to be agreed at the next meeting in November. Participants are meanwhile devising national action plans to ensure they are ready to effect full implementation by that date.