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 reports that federal police (PF) and federal highway police (PRF) blocked roads and conducting unwarranted vehicle searches in Brazil on the day of that country's presidential election.

The UK has consistently made clear its firm hope that the entire country of Brazil will respect core democratic principles, electoral processes and the election result. We continue to monitor reports of protests in Brazil following the recent election and to update Travel Advice as necessary. The Prime Minister and I publicly congratulated President-elect Luis Inácio Lula da Silva following his election victory. We look forward to the UK and Brazil working together as we continue to strengthen our historic partnership.