Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department’ has made of the implications for his policies of the (a) investigation of and (b) Interpol arrest warrant for the Governor of the Lebanese Central Bank.

We cannot comment on ongoing judicial matters. It is also HMG's long-standing policy to neither confirm nor deny (NCND) the existence of an INTERPOL Red Notice or Diffusion against any named individual. However, the UK encourages all states to comply with their international commitments to combat corruption. Corruption, whether in politics, the judiciary, the financial sector, or elsewhere, undermines the most basic principles of democracy and rule of law, and ultimately affects ordinary people most adversely. The UK Government is clear about the unacceptability of these practices and welcomes efforts to hold those responsible accountable. The Lebanese Government must act to tackle corruption and ensure transparent and accountable government.