asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What recent discussions on Darfur they have had with the Government of China; and whether they have raised the possible consequences for the Olympic Games in 2008 which may follow from international concern at their policies relating to Darfur.

My Lords, we regularly discuss Darfur with the Chinese Government, including at the United Nations. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary raised Sudan with the Chinese Government during her trip there last month, as did the Deputy Prime Minister during his visit to China in April. We have not discussed formally any possible consequences of Chinese policy on Darfur for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

I have met Chinese Ministers, ambassadors and China’s special Darfur envoy, Liu Guijin, on a number of occasions, most recently yesterday in Paris.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer and note without surprise that he passed fairly lightly over the possible effect on the Olympic Games. Is it not well to recognise that the modest shift in Chinese policy that seems to have taken place in recent months to a posture more supportive of the UN has coincided rather remarkably with the increase in NGOs and individual sporting celebrities raising the possible damage to the reputation and so forth of the Olympic Games? There are lessons there.

What action are the Government taking to accelerate the deployment of the hybrid force, which it appears that the president of Sudan has now accepted? What action might they be prepared to take if the president of Sudan yet again drags his feet?

My Lords, there have been several influences on Chinese opinion, including the interest that they have in stability to extract oil. The point has been made to them that forces in civil society—particularly in the world of entertainment as we know from Make Poverty History—can have a very dramatic impact.

During yesterday’s high-level meeting in Paris, we agreed that the heavy support package should be in place in the middle of the autumn—I would judge that October is the most realistic time. It has the possibility of transition into hybrid force status very soon after that. I was very clear at the meeting, as were others, that the proposals for sanctions must remain in place. Too many agreements have been broken, and this one must be made to stick.

My Lords, does this situation not call for military intervention? The Minister will know about the European battle group, which seems to be a sort of embryonic European army. I have been told in evidence that this battle group will never go to battle but that, on the other hand, it might be useful in peacekeeping operations. Surely Darfur is a very good candidate for that.

My Lords, the agreement which has fortunately been struck between the United Nations and the African Union about the nature of the peacekeeping force, to which Sudan has given unreserved acceptance, requires that it should be overwhelmingly African in nature and commanded by an African commander—and, indeed, a Nigerian has been appointed. While I can see a role that we can play to assist in various ways, such as heavy lift and with some of the logistics, if we can meet the aims of the African Union and assist it in its principal objective, Africa should be able to sort out Africa's problems and we will probably all benefit to a far greater extent.

My Lords, the Minister mentioned yesterday’s high-level meeting in Paris. Did the Chinese delegation there make any statement in support of the hybrid force? Does he think that in view of the slight change in China’s attitude we can rely on Beijing in future to help us to sort out any difficulties that may arise with the deployment?

My Lords, the Chinese have supported the concept of the hybrid force for some time and did not vary that position yesterday. I do not believe that as we go into the future they will vary it.

My Lords, I am sure that the Minister will feel that this is a very good outcome but of course it will not happen for a little while. Can Her Majesty's Government and the European Union more generally ensure that adequate supplies and protection go to the thousands of refugees encamped in Chad? As he will be aware, a substantial part of the population of Darfur has moved across the border and there are real problems with supplying them with enough food, shelter and all the rest that is required to keep them alive.

My Lords, part of the new energy that President Sarkozy has brought to this has been to open up again the discussion with President Deby in Chad. I believe that the plans for Chad at the moment are for a serious gendarme force rather than a conventional military force, although there may be military elements to it as well. The aim is to ensure that the war is not simply displaced backward and forward across the border, leaving people in the most hapless circumstances whichever side of the border they are on.

My Lords, what proportion of Sudanese Government revenues come from oil purchases by Chinese state agencies and, of that, how much do the Sudanese Government spend on military purposes?

My Lords, the Chinese have around a 42 per cent interest in Sudanese oil, which is pretty substantial. I believe that that, together with minerals, constitutes the basis of the foreign exchange earnings of the Sudanese regime. My belief is that a high proportion of it is spent on armaments. Unfortunately, that makes armaments and their supply among the most obvious candidates for effective sanctions, if they can be achieved.