Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 23 January (HL Deb, col 425) concerning recent developments in Sudan, and in the light of the indictment of the leaders of Sudan by the International Criminal Court for genocide and crimes against humanity, including the use of chemical weapons and assaults on the civilian population, whether they are planning the removal of any sanctions against Sudan or the promotion of bilateral business interests.

​We welcome the US decision to lift their bilateral sanctions on Sudan. The UK will continue to support the UN targeted sanctions relating to Darfur, as well as the EU arms embargo that remains in place across Sudan. In line with our policy of phased engagement, the UK will consider opportunities to promote trade with Sudan, as well as other areas of mutual interest, such as migration and countering violent extremism.