Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the Amnesty International report concerning Bahrain<i> Window-dressing or Pioneers of Change</i>, published in November, in the light of the UK's connection with, and aid to, Bahrain; and what assessment they have made of the report's recommendations to the Bahrain authorities including the Ombudsman of the Ministry of the Interior and the Special Investigation Unit.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) received a copy of the report from Amnesty International on Monday 21 November. We note that they have made a series of recommendations to the UK Government which we will look at closely.

The FCO undertakes a number of projects to assist our Bahraini partners including with the Ministry of Interior's Ombudsman and the Special Investigations Unit. We believe that the UK support to Bahrain's reform programme is the most constructive way to achieve long lasting and sustainable reform in Bahrain. While it will take time to see the full results, UK support is having a direct, positive impact on areas of concern.