Algeria

Lord Bach Excerpts

Thursday 27th March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

I take this opportunity, if I may, to pay tribute to my noble friend’s work as a trade envoy. His work has facilitated some major contracts for British companies, including most recently the International Hospitals Group and Surrey Satellite Technology. Turning to his specific questions, of course, English is a powerful tool in our trade across the world and I am delighted to state that the British Council is upgrading its services. It is reopening a teaching college in September, supporting English in schools. Also there is agreement for 100 Algerian PhD students to take up places at UK universities. On the issue of the double taxation agreement, some noble Lords may know that these negotiations have started, are continuing and, indeed, we have exchanged draft texts on the agreement.

[Lord Bach (Lab)]

My Lords, we know that there will be very important elections in Algeria on 17 April. Are Her Majesty’s Government satisfied that those elections will be freely and fairly conducted, and do the Government intend to send observers to them?

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

My Lords, if one looks across the wider MENA region, Algeria remains stable compared to other countries in what is a difficult and troubled region. The campaign, as the noble Lord has pointed out, has begun for presidential elections on 17 April, and the UK looks forward to working with whoever the Algerian people elect. On the specific issue of observers, I cannot give an answer now but I will certainly check that and write to him.