To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her policy is on the United Nations’ aim to deploy UN troops in the Sudan. (77905)

I fully support the deployment of a UN force for Darfur. The UK has been taking a lead in seeking international support for one. A UN force for Darfur would be in addition to the UN force already deployed in southern Sudan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with Dr. Ibrahim Mudawi of the Sudan Social Development Organisation on his appraisal of the situation in Darfur. (78137)

Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials meet regularly with Dr. Mudawi in Sudan. Like us, he remains concerned about the ongoing security problems in Darfur. We also share his concern about the need for a greater understanding of the Darfur Peace Agreement in order to develop more support among Darfuris themselves. He is also keen to press on with arrangements for a Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation to act as a rallying point for the different interest groups in the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements she is negotiating with the (a) African Union and (b) United Nations to try to improve the security situation in Darfur. (78138)

We welcome the African Union’s (AU) decision on 15 May to proceed with the transition of the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to the UN. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed this with the chairperson of the AU when they met in London last month. We continue to support AMIS through funding and technical assistance to enhance its effectiveness.

We also welcome the Government of Sudan’s acceptance of the UN planning mission and are pressing for them to agree to the deployment of a UN force in Darfur. Joint planning for transition between the AU and the UN is already under way. We are providing military and police planning experts to the UN and pressing for the handover to take place as quickly as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the Government of National Unity in Sudan will accept the introduction of UN troops in Darfur. (78139)

After extensive international lobbying, the Government of Sudan have agreed to allow a UN Technical Assistance Mission to visit Sudan to begin planning for the deployment of a UN force for Darfur. However, they have not yet endorsed the deployment of a UN force for Darfur. We and other international partners will continue to lobby them to do so.