§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the welfare of British nationals resident in Sudan. [55437]
§ Mr. FatchettDue to the withdrawal of UK staff from the British Embassy in Khartoum we are no longer able to provide consular assistance to British nationals in Sudan. All British nationals currently in Sudan were advised on 27 August to leave unless they have a compelling reason to remain. We are also still advising against all travel to the Sudan.
Some British Nationals have chosen to stay in the Sudan. We are not aware of any who are in distress.
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§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the United Kingdom representative at the United Nations gave to the Sudanese request for an early site inspection of the Sudanese pharmaceutical factory. [55439]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThis issue has only been raised during informal consultations of Security Council members. The United Kingdom did not contribute to the consultations and no consensus was reached. We continue to encourage the Sudanese to sign up to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which requires members to be open to international inspections by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government first had evidence that chemical weapons were being manufactured in Sudan. [55484]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe are aware of a number of reports, mainly from opposition groups, of Sudanese involvement in chemical weapons. We are concerned about these reports and will continue to monitor them.