To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the progress towards a new constitution for the Maldives; and what steps the UK Government are taking to encourage the Government of the Maldives to expedite completion of the constitution with a view to holding free and fair elections. (100656)

Following President Gayoom's speech in June 2004 outlining his aspirations for democratic reform, the Special Majlis (Constitutional Assembly) was established. Political parties were legalised for the first time in June 2005. We understand there are now at least three registered political parties. In March this year President Gayoom launched the Roadmap for the Agenda Reform. However, the process of bringing modern democracy to the Maldives has been lethargic and subject to setbacks. After two years, the Special Majlis has made little progress on a new constitution.

This summer in talks between the Maldivian Government and the Maldivian Democratic Party, which were hosted by the British high commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, there were encouraging signs of progress. In September, the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells), made a statement calling on the Maldivian Government and all political parties to work constructively both together and with the people of the Maldives to step up the pace of the democratic reforms. It is disappointing that the main stakeholders now seem to be drawing back from the progress they had made together. We continue to underline directly to stakeholders the need for open discussions among all political parties on the implementation of the democratisation process and on the promotion of democracy in the Maldives. We welcome and support the efforts of the EU, and other individual partners within it, in doing the same.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the Maldives Government requesting reasonable behaviour by their police force against peaceful protesters. (100657)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made representations to the Maldivian Government on this issue. The British high commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives has in recent weeks been active in making direct representations to Maldivian political leaders on all sides. He has urged them to act with restraint and not to take any steps that might inhibit the promotion of democracy in the Maldives. He has underlined the need to resume discussions on implementing democratic reforms.