Written question asked by Andy Slaughter (Labour) on Wednesday, 3 September 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 September 2025 (named day). It was answered by Hamish Falconer (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 September 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Western Sahara: Self-determination of States

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the UN Secretary General’s designation of Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory in the process of decolonisation.

Answer: Western Sahara is a UN Non-Self-Governing Territory with no defined Administering Power. The UK has endorsed Morocco's autonomy plan as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting solution of the Western Sahara conflict and welcomed Morocco's stated commitment to provide further details of what autonomy within a Moroccan state could entail, with a view to restarting serious negotiations. In that context, we continue to engage with all relevant parties in support of the UN-led process to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution, based on compromise, which conforms with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including the principle of respect for self-determination.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 74744
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Western Sahara: Self-determination of States
Thursday, 26 February 2026
Written questions
House of Commons; Western Sahara: Self-determination of States
Wednesday, 4 March 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Western Sahara Self-determination of states
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk