To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will represent the UK at the forthcoming international conference in France on Darfur; and what representations she is making to further the attendance of a representative of the Sudanese Government at the conference. (143230)

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, will represent the UK at the international conference on Darfur to be held in Paris on 25 June. Our ambassador in Khartoum has raised with the Sudanese Government their attendance at the meeting. However, the Sudanese Foreign Minister has made it clear that the Sudanese Government will not attend.