To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Indian Government on the rights and interests of the Dongria Kondh tribe of Orissa; and if he will make a statement. (283951)

We have not discussed the rights and interests of the Dongria Kondh tribe with the Indian Government. We have discussed the general rights and entitlements of tribal groups with Government of Orissa officials, under the Orissa Tribal Empowerment and Livelihoods Programme funded by the Department for International Development.