To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration she has made of the merits of the proposal to impose a no-fly zone in Darfur. (142558)

We are considering a number of measures to improve air monitoring in Darfur, from enhanced monitoring on the ground to a no-fly zone and we rule out nothing. We need to assess the logistical challenges of implementation and impact on the humanitarian effort of any measures. We are working with partners in the UN Security Council to press both the African Union and the Panel of Experts to notify the UN Sanctions Committee of any instances of offensive military flights in Darfur.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the international community’s policies on the imposition of sanctions on the Sudanese Government with regard to the conflict in Darfur; and if she will make a statement. (142560)

We believe sanctions have contributed towards containing the crisis in Darfur, for example in the Government of Sudan’s acceptance of the UN’s Heavy Support Package to the African Union peacekeeping force in Sudan. However, we want a solution to the crisis which may require further sanctions.

We are concerned that sanctions should not impact on those in Sudan who have no responsibility for violence in Darfur, or on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, thus damaging the south. We are therefore pressing for further targeted sanctions on individuals and an extension of the UN arms embargo from Darfur to all of Sudan, in line with the EU embargo, if the Government of Sudan and the rebel movements fail to honour their commitments.