Prime Minister's question asked in the House of Commons, by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Wednesday, 6 July 2005 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Engagements

Question: I am grateful to the Deputy Prime Minister for his positive response. He will know that, of all the crises on the African continent, the situation in Darfur is particularly grave. Disease, hunger and violence kill thousands every month. Does he agree that the African Union force is too small and its mandate too weak to have a decisive impact? Does not the situation now demand the swift deployment of an expanded and properly resourced African Union force with a new and unequivocal mandate to protect civilians and enforce peace? With four permanent members at Gleneagles, will the Government seek agreement to take that proposal to the Security Council?

Answer: When I entered the House in 1970, my first trip abroad was to the Sudan, where there was a civil war. People talk about the civil war in Sudan as if it started in the 1980s but in fact it had been raging well before then. There is a terrible tragedy in Sudan, but it is possible to identify Darfur with even worse atrocities. We are providing military and financial assistance and other help. Criticisms have been made of the African Union's involvement and whether it is adequate. That is being considered by the United Nations, and we will give whatever support we can.

Secondary information