To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make proposals for amending the rules of the Kimberley Process so as to protect taxpayers in diamond-producing states from the illegal diversion of public revenue to private individuals, and to ensure transparency of ownership of mining companies.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make proposals for amending the rules of the Kimberley Process so as to protect taxpayers in diamond-producing states from the illegal diversion of public revenue to private individuals, and to ensure transparency of ownership of mining companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2012, Official Report, column 809W, on mining, what consideration he gave to the answer of 28 April 2008, Official Report, column 61W, on coal mining: Bangladesh, when preparing the answer.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2012, Official Report, column 809W, on mining, what consideration he gave to the answer of 28 April 2008, Official Report, column 61W, on coal mining: Bangladesh, when preparing the answer.

(2) whether his Department has recently made an assessment of the potential effect of open pit mining in Bangladesh on (a) the environment and (b) human rights.

(2) whether his Department has recently made an assessment of the potential effect of open pit mining in Bangladesh on (a) the environment and (b) human rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what representations his Department has received concerning the Phulbari coal project in Bangladesh in each year since 2006;

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what representations his Department has received concerning the Phulbari coal project in Bangladesh in each year since 2006;

(3) whether his Department has recently had discussions with GCM Resources plc concerning the Phulbari coal project in Bangladesh.

(3) whether his Department has recently had discussions with GCM Resources plc concerning the Phulbari coal project in Bangladesh.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what his policy is on support for projects that involve open pit coal mining;

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what his policy is on support for projects that involve open pit coal mining;

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has made representations to the Bangladeshi authorities on Bangladesh's new national coal policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has made representations to the Bangladeshi authorities on Bangladesh's new national coal policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the health risks created by the use of diesel-powered machinery in the UK coal mining industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the health risks created by the use of diesel-powered machinery in the UK coal mining industry.

My honourable friend the Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs (Norman Lamb) has today made the following Statement. The EU Competitiveness Council took place in Brussels on 20 and 21 February 2012. I represented the UK on internal market and industry issues on 20 February, and Andy Lebrecht,...

My honourable friend the Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs (Norman Lamb) has today made the following Statement. The EU Competitiveness Council took place in Brussels on 20 and 21 February 2012. I represented the UK on internal market and industry issues on 20 February, and Andy Lebrecht,...

The EU Competitiveness Council took place in Brussels on 20 and 21 February 2012. I represented the UK on internal market and industry issues on 20 February, and Andy Lebrecht, Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU, represented the UK on research issues on 21 February. A summary of those discussions...

The EU Competitiveness Council took place in Brussels on 20 and 21 February 2012. I represented the UK on internal market and industry issues on 20 February, and Andy Lebrecht, Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU, represented the UK on research issues on 21 February. A summary of those discussions...

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any British companies are negotiating with the Government of Afghanistan concerning mining or metallurgical projects; and what action they are taking to ensure that all future contracts and concessions will be transparent and comply with the European Union transparency directive, taking into account the...

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any British companies are negotiating with the Government of Afghanistan concerning mining or metallurgical projects; and what action they are taking to ensure that all future contracts and concessions will be transparent and comply with the European Union transparency directive, taking into account the...

Resolved that the Committee takes note of European Union Document No. 16250/11 and Addenda 1 to 4, relating to a draft Directive on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings; supports the Government’s aim to reduce administrative burdens, particularly on small companies, through the harmonisation and simplification of requirements, including those for micro-businesses; and, as an aid to this, supports, within the scope of the proposal, increasing relevant thresholds whilst resisting harmonisation in areas that will increase administrative burdens on small business; and further supports, within the scope of the proposal, the Government’s aim of aligning the wording of new requirements for transparency in the reporting of payments to governments by companies engaged in the extractives sector (oil, gas and mining industries) with similar requirements which apply in the United States of America. (Vote)

Resolved that the Committee takes note of European Union Document No. 16250/11 and Addenda 1 to 4, relating to a draft Directive on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings; supports the Government’s aim to reduce administrative burdens, particularly on small companies,...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the European Commission proposal that extractive companies should disclose financial information on a project-by-project basis; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the European Commission proposal that extractive companies should disclose financial information on a project-by-project basis; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) whether his Department supports the European proposal for extractives companies to disclose financial information on a project-by-project basis; and whether it has a preferred definition of ““project”” for the purpose of this legislation;

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) whether his Department supports the European proposal for extractives companies to disclose financial information on a project-by-project basis; and whether it has a preferred definition of ““project”” for the purpose of this legislation;

(2) whether his Department supports the European proposals for greater transparency in the extractives sector; and what its policy is on (a) possible country-based exemptions from the proposed legislation and (b) a level of materiality that would be appropriate for the purpose of this legislation.

(2) whether his Department supports the European proposals for greater transparency in the extractives sector; and what its policy is on (a) possible country-based exemptions from the proposed legislation and (b) a level of materiality that would be appropriate for the purpose of this legislation.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the mining symposium they held on 30 June 2011, what assessment they have made of risks surrounding the mining sector in Afghanistan; and what steps are being taken to mitigate any such risks.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the mining symposium they held on 30 June 2011, what assessment they have made of risks surrounding the mining sector in Afghanistan; and what steps are being taken to mitigate any such risks.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to persuade the European Union to broaden the proposed European Union regulations on extractive industries to cover more sectors.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to persuade the European Union to broaden the proposed European Union regulations on extractive industries to cover more sectors.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the commitments made at the International Afghanistan Conference in Bonn to transparency and accountability in the mineral sector are implemented.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the commitments made at the International Afghanistan Conference in Bonn to transparency and accountability in the mineral sector are implemented.

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the mining symposium they held on 30 June 2011, what plans they have to (1) ensure that the Government and people of Afghanistan benefit from the country's mineral resources, and (2) ensure that those resources do not contribute to conflict, corruption...

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the mining symposium they held on 30 June 2011, what plans they have to (1) ensure that the Government and people of Afghanistan benefit from the country's mineral resources, and (2) ensure that those resources do not contribute to conflict, corruption...

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that as British forces withdraw from Afghanistan, efforts to exploit the mineral sector do not lead to future conflicts.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that as British forces withdraw from Afghanistan, efforts to exploit the mineral sector do not lead to future conflicts.