Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Sudan about the citizenship and status of the country’s non-Arab minority.”
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): “We are concerned that Sudan and South Sudan have rejected flexible citizenship arrangements and continue to urge both governments to come to an agreement on this as soon as possible. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development my honourable friend Sudan from 1-3 November, where he called for more time for the process of resolving citizenship; more clarity on the procedures and rules for citizenship; and a comprehensive movement plan agreed by both Governments and which international donors could then support as appropriate. The UK, through the Common Humanitarian Fund and Central Emergency Response Fund, has contributed £2.36 million ($3.8 million) in 2011 to assist Southern Sudanese returning from Sudan. We continue to urge both governments to take seriously their responsibilities towards their citizens, and to adopt a flexible approach to citizenship and free movement, given the strength of the links between the two countries and their peoples.”
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the role of the international peace-keepers in Abyei; and what long-term consideration they are giving to the nature of peace-keeping in Africa, following recent events in Abyei, Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan.”
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): “We welcome the deployment of the United Nations (UN) Interim Security Force in Abyei and call on the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to withdraw their forces without conditions, in accordance with the 20 June Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for the Administration and Security of Abyei. We regret the Sudanese Government’s refusal to allow an extension to the mandate of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), which might have allowed for peacekeeping troops to respond to the conflicts in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. More broadly, we consider that there remains an important role for international peacekeeping missions in Africa and the UK remains committed to continue to lead efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of UN peacekeeping; ensure that peacekeeping missions support the political processes which will deliver long-term stability; and work to ensure missions stay no longer than necessary.”
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what reports they have received on the levels of violence and the conditions which currently apply in Southern Kordofan.”
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): “The Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Baroness Amos, briefed interested members of the international community including the UK on the situation in Southern Kordofan, on 1 November in New York. Due to the lack of access across Southern Kordofan, information remains very difficult to come by. We remain gravely concerned at the ongoing violence in Southern Kordofan, and urge both sides to cease hostilities immediately. The humanitarian situation and the ongoing displacement of people is of great concern, and we continue to work closely with United Nations agencies and international partners to seek urgent access to those most affected by the conflict.”
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour): “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, column 663W, on IRG, whether any civil servants were present at the meeting between the Under-Secretary of State and Stephen Crouch in Sudan in July 2010.”
Henry Bellingham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa and the United Nations), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North West Norfolk, Conservative): “Officials were present in the arrivals lounge, but were talking with South Sudanese officials during the brief conversation.”
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of ongoing violence against the peoples of Southern Kordofan and Abyei, they will consider the introduction of targeted travel sanctions against members of the Government of Sudan.”
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): “We remain very concerned by the situation in Southern Kordofan, Abyei and Blue Nile. We continue to work closely with international partners to seek peaceful resolutions to the conflicts in all those regions and to achieve humanitarian access for those affected. As an International Criminal Court (ICC) indictee, the Governor of Southern Kordofan, Ahmed Haroun, is already unable to travel to any ICC member countries without risk of arrest. We judge that further targeted travel sanctions would not help at this stage in achieving our objectives, but will keep this under review in consultation with European Union and United Nations partners.”
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are giving to the Government of Southern Sudan to assist with expediting their application to join the Commonwealth.”
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): “I refer the noble Lord to my answer of 3 November 2011 (Hansard, col. WA 295). We welcome Commonwealth Heads of Government’s decision in Perth to request the secretariat to pursue the established procedures in regard to South Sudan’s application to join the Commonwealth. Existing support from the international community, including the UK, in areas such as governance will help the Government of South Sudan make progress in meeting the criteria for membership. Ultimately it will be for all member states to agree on whether to admit South Sudan to the Commonwealth.”
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour): “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, column 663W, on IRG, what the name is of each person who travelled with the Under-Secretary of State on his visit to Sudan in July 2010.”
Henry Bellingham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa and the United Nations), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North West Norfolk, Conservative): “On my visit to Sudan in July 2010 I was accompanied from London by my Private Secretary at the time, my Press Officer at the time and the UK Special Representative for Sudan, Michael Ryder. I was also accompanied by the ambassador to Sudan, Nick Kay and other officials from the British embassy while in Sudan.”
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour): “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, column 663W, on IRG, what the nature was of the Under-Secretary of State’s conversation with Stephen Crouch when they met in Sudan in July 2010.”
Henry Bellingham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa and the United Nations), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North West Norfolk, Conservative): “I was approached by Mr Crouch at Juba airport where he briefly set out the commercial activity he was undertaking in South Sudan. This encounter was not pre-arranged and did not lead to or generate any formal follow up.”
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour): “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, column 663W, on IRG, what the purpose was of the visit to Sudan by the Under-Secretary of State in July 2010.”
Henry Bellingham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa and the United Nations), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North West Norfolk, Conservative): “I visited Khartoum and Juba in July 2010 as part of the UK Government’s leading role in supporting preparations for the South Sudan secession referendum that took place in January 2011. During this visit I also discussed trade and investment issues, Darfur and future peace and prosperity for the Sudanese people.”
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour): “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, column 663W, on IRG, what travel advice his Department issued to UK citizens travelling to Sudan in July 2010.”
Henry Bellingham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa and the United Nations), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North West Norfolk, Conservative): “We regularly update our travel advice to reflect the situation in Sudan and, now, South Sudan. In July 2010 we advised against all travel to the Red Sea State border with Eritrea; within 40 km of South Sudan’s borders; and Darfur, including Nyala but excluding El Geneina and El Fasher. We also advised against all but essential travel to El Geneina and El Fasher in Darfur; Abyei in Southern Kordofan; all parts of south Sudan (including Juba); and areas west of the towns of an-Nahud and al-Fula in North Kordofan up to the Darfur border. The advice also made other recommendations, much as it does today, on the political, security, crime and travel situations, as well as other general topics. It was posted on the FCO travel advice website as is usual.”
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour): “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, column 663W, on IRG, what the engagements were of the Under-Secretary of State during his visit to Sudan in July 2010.”
Henry Bellingham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa and the United Nations), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North West Norfolk, Conservative): “During my visit to Sudan from 25-27 July 2011, I met a number of Ministers from the Government of Sudan, some of whom are now in the Government of South Sudan. I also met senior Sudanese business people, INGO groups and staff serving in the British embassy and Department for International Development office in Khartoum. I also visited a Department for International Development funded centre for women’s vocational training.”
