Major issues in the public policy debate with which we were engaged in 2003 were transparency, climate change, human rights, biodiversity and product stewardship. We have supported the UK Government's Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and remain actively involved in helping to develop the EITI mining revenue reporting template with the UK Department for International Development.

Rio Tinto recognises that political contributions from individuals are an established part of the political process in many countries and we acknowledge the right of our employees to be involved in that process. In the United States this includes the right to join a Political Action Committee (PAC), and employees at some of our operations have formed such Committees. Employee participation is voluntary and the PACs are non-partisan.

The PACs decide on the distribution of funds contributed by employees, and make contributions to a candidate based on his or her position on important policy issues, not party affiliation. PAC Board membership is voluntary and the Boards contain a diverse group of US employees.

Rio Tinto companies do not make contributions to the PACs although we allow employees to make use of company facilities for administrative purposes.

PAC contributions are reported to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) bi-annually, are transparent, and can be reviewed on the FEC website.