Written question asked by Mark Simmonds (Conservative) on Thursday, 17 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 March 2005. It was answered by Douglas Alexander (Labour) on Thursday, 24 March 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the Venezuelan Government's policies on (a) land reform and (b) foreign-owned land.

Answer: Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Venezuelan Government's policies on (a) land reform and (b) foreign-owned land. [223325] Mr. Alexander: We monitor political and economic developments in Venezuela closely, including on land reform. We have consistently underlined to the Venezuelan Government the importance of ensuring that land reform policies are transparent and consistent with Venezuela's domestic and international legal commitments. The Venezuelan Government has informed us that there is no distinction in their land reform policy between foreign-owned land and that owned by Venezuelans.

Secondary information