Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South, Liberal Democrat)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will (a) freeze the bank accounts and (b) seize the assets of members of the Government of the Maldives in response to human rights abuses.

Kim Howells (Minister of State (Middle East), Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Pontypridd, Labour)

I have been asked to reply.

The Government has no current plans to impose sanctions, such as the freezing of assets and bank accounts, or travel bans against members of the Government of the Maldives. Sanctions are most appropriate where existing efforts at dialogue and co-operation are not able to lever positive progress. We note recent moves from the Government of the Maldives to establish dialogue with all political parties. We look forward to seeing early progress on democratic reform.

We are, however, seriously concerned about the human rights situation in the Maldives. We continue to raise those concerns, including in September when the British High Commissioner in Colombo accredited to the Maldives did so personally with President Gayoom. The High Commissioner and his deputy also separately made representations to the Maldivian Foreign Minister in late October. We will continue to do so.