§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings concerning the future of the Western Sahara have been attended by representatives of Her Majesty's Government(a) at the UN and (b) elsewhere in the past year; and if he will make a statement. [15933]
§ Mr. HanleyProgrammes for official visits to the UN mission for the referendum in Western Sahara—MINURSO—from the UK and elsewhere have usually included visits to refugee camps in Algeria under MINURSO auspices. Most recently, officials from the foreign and Commonwealth Office visited camps in Tindouf in October 1995.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the UN Security Council concerning the performance of MINURSO in registering potential voters in the referendum on the future of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [15934]
§ Mr. HanleyWe have expressed concern in the UN Security Council at the slow rate of progress in registering voters in the referendum on the future of the Western Sahara. The Secretary-General has reported that he will monitor the situation closely and bring the matter to the Security Council's attention if the situation showed no or very little sign of improvement.
We remain supportive of the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and of MINURSO. We continue to urge all parties to proceed with the referendum process as quickly as possible.