§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Sudanese Government regarding its willingness to ratify the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. [71371]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe Sudanese government has signed the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Embassy in Khartoum has regularly lobbied the Government of Sudan to ratify the Convention. The Head of the joint FCO/DFID Sudan Unit also lobbied the Government of Sudan last month. We expect the Sudanese Government to present a Bill to Parliament in the near future.