To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish a permanent salaried diplomatic presence in Equatorial Guinea. (186650)

[holding answer 18 February 2008]: The Government have no plans to establish a permanent diplomatic presence in Equatorial Guinea at this point.

Non-resident diplomatic cover for Equatorial Guinea is provided by our high commissioner to Nigeria, based in Abuja, and his staff. Consular cover is provided by the British deputy high commission in Lagos and there is a British honorary consul resident in Malabo.

We believe that these arrangements are sufficient to represent UK interests in Equatorial Guinea.