To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is with regard to West Papua; if he will make representations regarding alleged human rights abuses there; what steps he is taking to ensure that this part of Indonesia is subject to international scrutiny; and what discussions his Department has had with those organisations that wish to secede from Indonesia.

We support the territorial integrity of Indonesia. We encourage the Indonesian Government to engage in dialogue with Papuan representatives and to proceed with full implementation of the 2001 Special Autonomy legislation. We are encouraged by the formation of the Papuan People's Council (MRP) in November 2005. The MRP is made up of native Papuans and will act as an advisory panel to the devolved Papuan legislature (DPRP), advising on a range of issues that affect native Papuans.

We also welcome the high priority that the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has attached to the resolution of conflict in Papua and his commitment, on 17 August, to resolve the issue of Papua in a peaceful, just and dignified manner by emphasising dialogue. As part of this, President Yudhoyono met a delegation of Papuan leaders on 9 August. He has stated that he will implement the Special Autonomy law. We and other members of the international community encourage him to do so. We hope that the MRP can work together with the local and central Government to bring about solutions to Papua's problems.

We are concerned about reports of human rights abuses in Papua, and we raise these with the Government of Indonesia.

Staff from our embassy in Jakarta make periodic visits to Papua to discuss the situation with local Papuan organisations, human rights organisations, church leaders, academics and non-governmental organisations.