To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Sudan regarding the conviction of Lubna Hussein under Article 152(1) of the Sudanese Criminal Act; and what assessment they have made of the punishment of the women arrested with her. [HL5847]

We have followed this case closely through our embassy and made representations to the Government of Sudan (GoS) during the 12th session of the UN Human Rights Council in September in Geneva. My honourable friend the Minister of State for International Development, Gareth Thomas, raised human rights issues with the Government of Sudan in Khartoum on 14 October 2009 and we continue to raise these issues with the GoS, including through the EU.

While we welcome the release of Ms Hussein on 8 September 2009, we continue to call upon the Government of Sudan to act in the spirit of the rights set out in the Interim National Constitution and in particular the Bill of Rights provision that no person should be subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.