Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will raise in the UN Security Council the ongoing instability in the Mahgreb following the renewed hostilities in the Western Sahara.

We are closely monitoring the situation in Western Sahara and have regular discussions with the UN, both in New York and in the region, as well as with Council members. The UN Security Council was briefed on Western Sahara in December. We continue to urge the parties to avoid further escalation, return to the ceasefire agreement, and re-engage with the UN-led political process. We strongly support the UN Secretary General's efforts to appoint a Personal Envoy as soon as possible.