Davey quizzes Miliband on Barclays and Mugabe

12.47.46pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th Jun 2008

'What is the Foreign Secretary doing to end the scandalous situation in which a British bank-Barclays-still bankrolls Mugabe's thugs . . '

[Jun 24] Edward Davey (Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs; Kingston & Surbiton, Liberal Democrat): What is the Foreign Secretary doing to end the scandalous situation in which a British bank-Barclays-still bankrolls Mugabe's thugs by operating through a local subsidiary, thereby bypassing EU sanctions on Zimbabwe? Why has action not yet been taken to deal with that insidious loophole at either the UK or the EU level? Will he condemn that practice which flouts the spirit if not the letter of the sanctions against Zanu-PF's leaders?

David Miliband (Secretary of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office; South Shields, Labour): I condemn anything that gives financial or moral succour to Zanu-PF leaders. As far as I am aware-and I am happy to take new information if the hon. Gentleman has it, and follow it up-we know of no British company that is breaking the sanctions regime.

In respect of companies that are using subsidiaries or other means, I would want to look at the details of any individual case. The details are important, because there is the question of employment and support for ordinary Zimbabweans as well as succour for the regime. However, we utterly condemn anything that gives support to the regime.