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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the UN initiative, UN Global Compact, and its implications for companies operating in Sudan. [17917] Mr. Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply. The Global Compact is the UN Secretary General's initiative on global corporate social responsibility involving a number of leading international companies and NGOs. It encourages companies to take nine core human rights, labour and environment principles into consideration in their business in the developing world. We fully support the UN Global Compact and were one of the first Governments to do so. The Global Compact is a voluntary instrument aimed at developing best practice that goes beyond compliance frameworks and encourages creative responsibility on the part of companies. We encourage firms operating in developing countries like Sudan to consider how they can best implement the principles behind the compact. The compact offers the potential to make a tangible improvement to the quality of life of people affected by UK company operations around the globe, but particularly in the developing world.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

376 c304W; 17917

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Companies Developing countries Overseas trade Sudan UN Global Compact

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk