Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how many times officials from (a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments have visited the Western Sahara to examine economic development in that region in the last five years.

Officials have conducted technical visits to Western Sahara. These have included visits to UN peacekeeping (MINURSO) sites to take stock of the situation, and meetings with NGOs and relevant local authorities. The most recent visit took place in September 2023.