§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of France concerning the future mineral exploitation of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [64864]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI am informed that we have had no discussions with the Government of France concerning the future mineral exploitation of the Western Sahara.
§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made to the Government of Morocco concerning their occupation of the Western Sahara. [64861]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe regularly discuss the issue of Western Sahara with the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco. My predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), raised the issue during his visit to Morocco in September 2001 and when he met with Mohammed Benaissa the Moroccan Foreign Minister during his visit to London in March 2002. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State also discussed the subject with Mohammed Benaissa during his visit to London in February 2002.
§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the British contribution has been to Minurso for each of the past five years. [64862]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe British contribution to Minurso over the past five years is as follows:
£ 1997–98 934,360 1998–99 2,369,371 1999–2000 1,014,550 2000–01 1,984,177 2001–02 2,148,347
§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the UN Secretary General concerning the proposals by his representative on the future of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [64863]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe mandate for the UN Mission for a Referendum in Western Sahara is due for renewal on 31 July. The UN Secretary General asked UN Security Council members to choose a suitable direction for his special envoy James Baker, to pursue in helping the parties find a solution to the dispute in Western Sahara.
UK officials have been working with American, French and other Security Council colleagues in New York and in the capitals of Security Council members in an effort to reach a consensus on a suitable direction before 31 July.
The UK has maintained a consistent position, that we continue to support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General in trying to find a just and durable resolution to the dispute.