To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK-based companies have been involved in the exportation of (a) cassiterite, (b) coltan and (c) wolframite from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as referred to in the report of 12 December 2008 by the UN panel of experts (S/2008/773). (246293)

We are aware of a number of UK-based companies involved in mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo, although precise details of their activities are not held. Only one—Afrimex, which is involved in the exportation of cassiterite—is referred to by name in the UN panel of experts report.