HC Deb 20 January 2003 vol 398 cc21-2W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the UN report on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of Congo; what assessment she has made of the British companies named in the report; and if she will make a statement. [90413]

Clare Short

The latest UN Panel Report has provided a valuable further assessment of the illegal exploitation of resources in the DRC, but we and other members of the Security Council have asked for additional information on the specific claims made in the report. In particular we have asked for sight of the information corroborating the allegations made against British companies and nationals. Once this has been received we will take a view on what further action to pursue in relation to the allegations.