To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government plans to take in response to the human rights situation of Western Saharawi refugees in the Tindouf camps and the actions of the Moroccan Government. (167406)

The UK is concerned about the welfare of the people of Western Sahara. We have set out our concerns about human rights and the humanitarian situation in the region in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2006 Annual Human Rights Report, which is available at:

www.fco.gov.uk.

We have raised human rights issues with Morocco. We continue to support ongoing confidence building measures for the region, such as establishing a regular telephone and mail service between Tindouf and the territory, and family visits between the territory and the camps.

The UK remains concerned that the issue of the status of Western Sahara remains unresolved, with consequent problems for the people of the region. The UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1783 on 31 October, which renewed the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara until 30 April 2008. The resolution also calls upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith. The UK fully supports these negotiations, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support a census to establish the number of Western Saharawi refugees. (167407)

It remains part of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara's (MINURSO) mandate to identify and register qualified voters to take part in any referendum. The UK is concerned that the issue of the status of Western Sahara remains unresolved, with consequent problems for the people of the region. The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1783 on 31 October, which renewed the mandate of MINURSO until 30 April 2008.

The resolution also calls upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith. It is the UK's policy to fully support these negotiations, and the work of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy, Peter van Walsum, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

The UK has provided over £200,000 to the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Organisation to provide food aid to Western Saharan refugees currently living in refugee camps.