PWYP UK letter to Secretary of State for International Development Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP

Members of PWYP UK wrote to Secretary of State for International Development, the Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell, ahead of the G20 Development Working Group meeting in Cape Town on 30 June, asking him that UK representatives at the meeting champion legally binding country-by-country and project-by-project reporting measures for companies engaged in oil, gas and mining activities. The text of the letter is below, or you can view the letter in PDF

24 June 2011

Dear Secretary of State,

Thank you for your support for improving transparency in the oil, gas and mining industries. We are delighted that the Chancellor has committed to supporting extractive industry transparency regulations at the EU and we were very encouraged by Stephen O’Brien MP’s speech at the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Global Conference in Paris earlier this year.

We are writing in advance of the G20 Development Working Group meeting in Cape Town on 30 June to ask you to ensure that UK representatives at the meeting champion legally binding country-by-country and project-by-project reporting measures for companies engaged in oil, gas and mining activities.

Supporting a strong reference to extractive industry country-by-country and project-by-project reporting regulations in the outcomes of the Cape Town meeting will enhance effective domestic resource mobilisation, helping resource-rich developing countries to benefit more from their natural resources and use these revenues for sustainable development and poverty reduction. As you know, natural resources account for the largest share of exports and revenue, and thus are also the greatest potential vehicle for development, in many developing countries.

Country-by-country reporting requirements can play a beneficial role across all multinational companies. We therefore ask you to support a commitment to action on disclosure of key financial information in the extractive industries to challenge government corruption and tax abuse as well as research on the feasibility of similar transparency measures for other sectors.

Thank you again for your support of extractive industry compulsory disclosure requirements in the EU and internationally. We urge you to ensure that this issue is high on the agenda at the G20 Development Working Group meeting next week and we look forward to the outcomes of the meeting.

Yours sincerely,

Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy, CAFOD
Loretta Minghella, Director, Christian Aid
Gavin Hayman, Director of Campaigns, Global Witness
Laura Kelly, European Policy Director, ONE
Jane Allen, UK Campaign Coordinator, Publish What You Pay
Karin Lissakers, Director, Revenue Watch Institute
Philippa Bonella, Head of Communications and Education, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
Paul Cook, Advocacy Director, Tearfund
Chandrashekhar Krishnan, Executive Director, Transparency International UK