HC Deb 18 November 2003 vol 413 cc767-9W
Ann McKechin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has made to investigate British companies named in the final report of the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [136359]

Mr. Timms

I have been asked to reply.

The Government take allegations against UK companies in any UN Panel's report seriously. If we are provided with sufficient evidence that a company has broken UK law, we will take action.

Separately, the DTI, acting as National Contact Point (NCP) for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines, is aware of the Panel's report and potential cases arising from it. The role of the NCP is to facilitate a dialogue between the two parties with a view to resolving the issues raised. In this situation, however, the NCP cannot mediate between the parties as the Expert Panel has disbanded on the expiry of its mandate (31 October). The evidence that has been supplied to the NCP by the UN Panel, after several requests by HMG, is general in content and relates only to some of the named companies. DTI will therefore have difficulty progressing these cases, under the Guidelines, on the basis of what has been provided so far.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what independent mechanisms exist for the United Nations Panel on the Democratic Republic of the Congo to pursue its investigations into the exploitation of the Congo's natural resources; and what the policy of the Government is in relation to the establishment of such independent capability. [137619]

Mr. Straw

The Expert Panel on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the DRC disbanded on the expiry of its mandate (31 October 2003). I am not aware of any other independent mechanisms that exist for the Panel to pursue its investigations.

We have taken the allegations against UK companies in all of the UN Panel's reports very seriously. The report's proposals for preventing the re-occurrence of illegal exploitation are helpful. If we are provided with evidence that a company has broken UK law, we will take legal action. But this latest report fails to substantiate allegations made against UK companies in earlier reports. The evidence that has been supplied to the DTI, the National Contact Point for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines, is circumstantial and general in content. DTI is seeking clarification.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from British-based individuals and companies relating to the release of information about such companies and individuals by the UN Panel on the Democratic Republic of the Congo in its recent report; and if he will make a statement. [137620]

Mr. Straw

The Department of Trade and Industry, acting as the National Contact Point (NCP) for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines on Multi National Enterprises (MNEs), has been approached by three companies named in the final UN Panel report. Details of these exchanges will remain confidential under the provisions of the Guidelines. We are still waiting for evidence to be supplied by the Panel on a number of UK companies named in the report. We will publish a statement on the report once all the evidence has been received by the NCP (DTI) and the necessary next steps have been taken.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the United Kingdom made to the UN in relation to United Kingdom-based individuals and companies mentioned in the report on the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement. [137621]

Mr. Straw

The Department for Trade and Industry, acting as the National Contact Point (NCP) for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines on Multi National Enterprises (MNEs), contacted the UN Expert Panel on the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on three separate occasions, (between April and September 2003), to request information to substantiate allegations made against UK companies and individuals in its earlier reports. The UK Deputy Permanent representative to the UN in New York asked Ambassador Kassem, the chair of the Expert Panel, personally for further information on the named UK companies and individuals on 11 March 2003. An official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office also wrote to Ambassador Kassem on 29 May with the same request. On 6 October 2003, an official from our High Commission in Nairobi contacted the political officer of the Panel to request the information. We continue to take every opportunity to seek to clarify the allegations made against UK companies and individuals.