HL Deb 16 November 2004 vol 666 cc133-4WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What response they have made to the allegations against a United Kingdom-based company, Avient Limited, in Annex 3 of the initial United Nations Expert Panel report on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, published in October 2002. [HL4881]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Her Majesty's Government's response to the allegations against Avient Ltd made in the reports of the UN Expert Panel on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth in the Democratic Republic of Congo is contained in the statement of 8 September 2004 by the National Contact Point on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multi-National Enterprises. This statement is available at www.dti.gov.uk\ewt\statements.htm. I also refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave to my noble friend the Lord Alli on 5 January 2004 (Official Report, cols. WA 8–9).

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they had prior knowledge of contracts between the United Kingdom-based company, Avient Limited, and the governments of Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo to supply military services, as claimed by Mr Andrew Smith, a director of the Company. [HL4882]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Government officials met Mr Andrew Smith on a number of occasions from 1998 to 2002. In those contacts officials were assured by Mr Smith that he would not breach the EU's arms embargo on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). At no time have the Government encouraged, supported, or promoted Mr Smith's activities in Zimbabwe or the DRC.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give the dates and subjects of discussions between representatives of the United Kingdom-based company Avient Limited and the United Kingdom High Commission in Harare. [HL4883]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

British High Commission officials had contact with Mr Andrew Smith, a director of Avient Limited, on a number of occasions, between 1998 and 2002 concerning his business activities in Africa.