HC Deb 13 February 2004 vol 418 cc87-8W
Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the(a) independence and (b) integrity of the Mozambican judicial system. [155310]

Mr. Mullin

The independence of the Mozambican judiciary is enshrined in Section 1, Article 164 of the Mozambican constitution. This states that, "In the discharge of their functions, judges are independent and only owe obedience to the law". The Government of Mozambique is committed to ensuring an independent and fair judicial system.

Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the list lodged with his Department of United Kingdom claimants for property appropriated without compensation by the Mozambique Government since 1975. [155311]

Mr. Mullin

Under Exemption 15 (Statutory and other restrictions: Data Protection Act in this case) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, the Government is prohibited from placing in the Library the list of UK claimants for property appropriated without compensation by the Mozambique Government since 1975 without the written permission of all those listed.

Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions in the last 12 months in which the issue of claims for compensation for confiscated property have been raised with the Mozambican authorities. [155312]

Mr. Mullin

Our High Commission in Maputo last raised the issue of claims for compensation for confiscated property with the Mozambican authorities in July 2003. We will continue to raise the matter with the Mozambicans as and when appropriate opportunities present themselves.

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