To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on human rights monitoring in (a) Western Sahara and (b) the refugee camps near Tindouf. (261378)

Our officials visited Western Sahara in February 2009 and met with representatives from across the spectrum of interested parties. During the visit civil society organisations made representations on human rights monitoring in Western Sahara and the refugee camps in Tindouf.

The UK has a strong interest in human rights issues in Western Sahara and in Tindouf and continues to monitor the situation carefully. Our official will be visiting the camps in Tindouf in March 2009.