Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to UK companies that operate in industries at risk of exposure to illicit minerals originating from territory occupied by M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The UK has sanctioned M23 and other armed groups through the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act. We support the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, which aims to improve transparency and governance in the mining sector. The UK works through international mechanisms that enable businesses to operate responsibly in conflict affected and high-risk areas. The UK is also a member of the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights, which promote a set of principles to guide companies in the extractives sector to maintain the safety and security of their operations to reduce the risk of human rights abuses. We expect all UK businesses to respect human rights throughout their operations, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Implementation of these frameworks supports access to justice and remedy for victims of business-related human rights abuses.