HC Deb 13 May 2003 vol 405 c168W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many formal complaints have been received by the National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multi-national Enterprises; and what action has been taken. [112971]

Ms Hewitt

Since the most recent revision of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multi-national Enterprises which took place in June 2000, the United Kingdom National Contact Point (NCP) has been in receipt of two formal complaints. The first was received on 27 February 2002, in respect of an alleged breach by a UK based company of the guidelines arising from its activities in Africa. The NCP replied to this submission on 1 March 2002. Further details with regard to action taken are governed by the confidentiality provisions of the Guidelines.

The second complaint was only received on 29 April 2003 and concerned an alleged breach of the guidelines by an international consortium led by a UK plc. operating in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. So far, the complaint has been acknowledged and copied to the company concerned.