§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have studied the allegations made by Ambassador Frank Ruddy in testimony before the Subcommittee on the Department of Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary and Related Agencies of the US Congress on 25th January 1995, concerning the "mafia-like behaviour" and "thuggery" of Moroccan Ministry of the Interior personnel in the Western Sahara, and the case for restoring UN control over the process of identifying those eligible to vote in the proposed referendum; and what action they propose the European Union should take to restore confidence in the process.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)We are concerned at the allegations made by Mr. Frank Ruddy before the US Congress Sub-Committee on 25 January 1995. We understand that a UN team has visited the Western Sahara to investigate Mr. Ruddy's allegations, and we await the report of their findings. The referendum process in the Western Sahara is a matter for the UN and not the EU.