Mali

Something that gives me particular satisfaction is pressing a constituent's concerns directly with Ministers on the floor of the House.

Last week, I raised the issue of human rights abuses in Mali. This followed a meeting with my constituent Caroline Hart, who helps to run the Chagford-based voluntary organisation The Joliba Trust. This fine charity assists Malians in the poorest region of the country.

Asking a question on Mali was timely, given recent developments. The north of the country is in the hands of Al-Qaeda inclined rebels and the worry for the West is that these forces could over-run the country and use it as a base for terrorism.

Many innocent Malians have been disposessed of their land and many others have become the victims of indiscriminate violence — a problem leading the International Criminal Court to announce a war crimes investigation. When I met Caroline she described her fears about these developments.

In the House I asked the following: 'I met recently with my constituent, Caroline Hart, who, through the Joliba Trust, has done a great deal to alleviate suffering in Mali. One of her and her colleagues' main concerns on the ground in that country is the widespread abuse of human rights on all sides of the conflict. Will my Rt Hon Friend please set out the steps that the Government are taking to ensure that human rights are at the centre of what we do as we engage in that conflict?'

In his reply the Minister stated: 'We are supporting our French allies in Mali, in support of United Nations Security Council resolution 2087. I know that everybody at the United Nations will be concerned about human rights, as is everybody in this Government.'

I will continue to engage with and to press on this issue.