Afghanistan: Human Rights Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government: What information they have received from the Women Political Participation Committee of Afghanistan concerning the proposed re-establishment of the vice and virtue department; and whether they will make representations to the Government of Afghanistan concerning the preservation of the right to freedom of religion and belief under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.[HL7127] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman) The Government have not received any information from the Women Political Participation Committee of Afghanistan about the re-establishment of the Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The Afghan Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs' proposal for establishing a Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice was considered at Cabinet on 16 July. This has now been referred to Parliament. We, and our international partners, continue to encourage the Afghan Government to observe their international human rights obligations. We will consider making representations once Parliament has deliberated and a decision has been made.