In accordance with section 6(2) of The Foreign Compensation Act 1950, I am laying before Parliament the Annual Report of the Foreign Compensation Commission for the year ended 31 March 2005.

  This is the first report since the publication in March 2000 of the 49th report for the year ended 31 March 1999. The former Secretary to the Commission died unexpectedly at the start of 2004 following on a two-year vacancy created by the ill-health of the former. This, along with the absence of any active programmes contributed to the reporting gap.

  The Commission's renewed activity is summarised in the present report which covers the year 2004-05 and the report includes financial statements to show that funds have been properly accounted for throughout the intervening period.

Rt Hon Jack Straw MP

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

10 April 2006