§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions his Department takes to ensure that the UK pursues an ethical foreign policy. [131363]
§ Mr. RammellIt is increasingly clear that respect for human rights, good governance and the rule of law helps underpin political stability, economic development and open societies. Ensuring respect for human rights remains, therefore, at the heart of the Government's foreign policy. On 18 September, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) published its Annual Report on Human Rights 2003 which sets out the Government's work over the past year to promote human rights abroad. A copy of the report has been sent to all Members of Parliament and is also available on the FCO's website (www.fco.gov.uk). The report includes details of projects funded under the FCO's Human Rights Project Fund which has spent £17 million over five years on over 600 human rights projects in more than 90 countries.