Written question asked by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 9 March 2001. It was answered by Brian Wilson (Labour) on Friday, 9 March 2001 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 report he has received from the Indian organisation, Volunteers for Social Justice, regarding bonded labourers in Punjab State who have registered their cases in 1999 or before, but have not been released. - Inc figure.

Answer: Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what report he has received from the Indian organisation, Volunteers for Social Justice, regarding bonded labourers in Punjab State who have registered their cases in 1999 or before, but have not been released. [153121] Mr. Wilson: We understand that, as of 19 August 2000, 698 bonded labourers had registered cases at the Punjab Human Rights Commission or the Punjab and Haryana Court. Of these cases almost all had been filed in 1999 or before. We share the concern of Volunteers for Social Justice over the situation of bonded labourers in India. We continue to monitor the issue closely.

Secondary information