Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville Excerpts

Thursday 10th February 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, one could put a great many forces into the DRC, which is a huge country, and one could spend an enormous amount of funds, although the quality of local administration in some provinces is such that there is a question of how much can be absorbed. The UK is putting a considerable effort in. We are deeply engaged with this process. We want a presidential election that is as fair and effective as possible.

[Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville]

My Lords, is my noble friend aware of the irony that this acceleration of the constitutional process in the DRC goes hand in hand with the fact that commercially it takes longer to set up a business in the DRC than in any other country on earth?

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, I was not aware of that. I thank the noble Lord for the information.