Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the UK Government last held discussions with the Government of Sudan on that country's use of detention centres.

We have consistently made clear to the Government of Sudan our expectation that all detainees will be treated in accordance with international standards and afforded their full legal rights guaranteed in Sudanese law. We have seen no evidence of systemic mistreatment among the general prison population. Following the recent protests we have seen credible evidence of mistreatment of detainees in facilities operated by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). We strongly urge the Government of Sudan to implement the recommendations of the National Dialogue that relate to the powers of the security services to arrest and detain individuals. Most recently, senior UK officials in Khartoum raised the issue with the Government of Sudan's Europe Director on 13 February. When I met with the Sudanese Foreign Minister on 22 January I conveyed our concern about the Sudan Government's response to protests and emphasised the importance of rule of law and human rights.