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Written Question
Western Sahara
Tuesday 10th June 2014

Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2014, Official Report, column 515W, on Western Sahara, if the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa will also meet representatives of POLISARIO, the UN-recognised body, to discuss issues relating to Western Sahara.

Answered by Hugh Robertson

British Ministers do not have direct contact with the POLISARIO Front. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Officials in London regularly meet POLISARIO representatives to discuss Western Sahara. FCO Officials also undertake visits to the region, and to the refugee camps at Tindouf.

Written Question
Western Sahara
Tuesday 10th June 2014

Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on how the ongoing conflict in Western Sahara affects the ability of terrorist and criminal gangs to recruit disaffected youth in the refugee camps or the occupied territory.

Answered by Hugh Robertson

We monitor the security situation in the region from a number of sources. We are aware of frustration in both Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps at the lack of progress in the political process and at the socio-economic conditions in the camps. However, we are not aware of any evidence to suggest increased radicalisation of Sahrawi youth by terrorist or criminal gangs.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 05 Nov 2013
Persecution of Christians (Middle East)

"I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce), who called for a public voice on this issue. She has been the instigator of that public voice this morning, and we are grateful to her for securing this opportunity.

Like other hon. Members, I want to talk about …..."
Mark Williams - View Speech

View all Mark Williams (LD - Ceredigion) contributions to the debate on: Persecution of Christians (Middle East)
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 22 Jan 2013
UK Trade and Investment

"I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. Does he also agree that there is a role for promoting our higher education institutions in those countries? My hon. Friend does a great deal, and as Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Wales Office he does a lot for Wales. I …..."
Mark Williams - View Speech

View all Mark Williams (LD - Ceredigion) contributions to the debate on: UK Trade and Investment
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Jan 2013
Human Rights: Iran

"I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his leadership of our parliamentary group in highlighting many of the abuses of the Iranian regime. He talked about how the situation is escalating. It is escalating as we speak, as the Iranian Parliament is trying to pass a law to prevent …..."
Mark Williams - View Speech

View all Mark Williams (LD - Ceredigion) contributions to the debate on: Human Rights: Iran
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 11 Jan 2012
Iran (Human Rights)

"I pay tribute to the hon. Lady’s work on behalf of the Baha’i community. We are both members of the all-party friends of the Baha’is group, which tries to advance the cause of the Baha’is. Does she agree that one of the big problems with Iran is raising awareness of …..."
Mark Williams - View Speech

View all Mark Williams (LD - Ceredigion) contributions to the debate on: Iran (Human Rights)