Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

90925

registered interest
date	08/09/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Syria
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they and their allies are taking to prevent the Syrian town of Mhardeh from falling to attacks by Islamist militants.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL1851
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2014 answer text <p>We are extremely concerned about the activities of Islamist extremists in Syria and the threat they pose to Christian communities in Mhardeh and elsewhere. Our response is to support the moderate opposition who are fighting both extremism and Assad’s tyranny. We are acting in close coordination with our international allies. We are also pushing for an inclusive political process which is the only long term way to protect Syria’s minority communities.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 22/09/2014 10:39:21 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

90844

registered interest
date	05/09/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Syria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government recognises President Assad as the legitimate head of state of Syria.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Paul Flynn
uin	208371
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2014 answer text <p>Britain has a long standing policy of recognising States and not governments. Our position on Assad remains unchanged – he does not have legitimacy and should step aside in the interests of the Syrian people. Assad’s elections and inauguration were parodies of democracy, disenfranchising millions of Syrians and conducted in a way which fell far short of any international democratic standards.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/09/2014 11:49:33 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	545 label Biography information for Paul Flynn

90701

registered interest
date	04/09/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Syria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to stop the war in Syria; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	North Down
tabling member printed	Lady Hermon
uin	208184
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2014 answer text <p>The UK has been very active over the years of the Syria conflict, and it remains a top priority. The rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) threatens the UK, and the whole region.</p><p>With our international partners, we have focused on support for those pushing for an inclusive political settlement. This has led to our political and non-lethal assistance to moderate opposition groups. We have committed £30 million this financial year for helping the moderate opposition and bolstering regional resilience. We have given strong backing for UN efforts in the political track.</p><p>The UK has also focussed on holding Assad to account for his war crimes, which have included routine, indiscriminate bombardment of civilian areas, the use of chemical weapons, and the use of siege and surrender tactics. The UK is also the second largest bilateral humanitarian aid donor, and has been at the forefront of efforts in the UN Security Council to ensure aid gets to all those who need it.</p><p>The UK recently committed to tackling the threat from extremists, including ISIL. This needs a coordinated strategy in Syria and Iraq, and close coordination with the US and other partners.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/09/2014 11:52:31 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1437 label Biography information for Lady Hermon

90702

registered interest
date	04/09/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Syria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal (a) is intact and (b) has been destroyed to date; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	North Down
tabling member printed	Lady Hermon
uin	208185
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2014 answer text <p>As of 29 August, all of Syria’s declared chemical stockpile of 1,309.8 metric tonnes had been removed from Syria and thus put beyond use of the regime. 95.8%, or 1,254.8 metric tonnes had been destroyed either by incineration or neutralisation, including all of the Category 1 chemicals (those deemed most proliferation sensitive by the OPCW, plus isopropanol).</p><p>The destruction of some of the category 1 chemicals in the UK was completed on 5 August, three weeks after the arrival of the chemicals in the UK. A smaller quantity of Hydrogen Fluoride (a category 2 chemical) will be destroyed in the UK at the turn of the year. Other chemicals are being destroyed in Germany, Finland and the United States.</p><p>Syria was required to declare and destroy all stocks of chemical weapons and their precursors, and the facilities and equipment with which they were manufactured. The international community cannot have confidence that Syria’s declarations were complete while credible reports of the use of chemical weapons, such as chlorine, continue, and until all outstanding questions surrounding the declarations have been resolved. The OPCW continues to seek answers to a number of questions.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/09/2014 09:22:27 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1437 label Biography information for Lady Hermon

90105

registered interest
date	01/09/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Syria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether chemical weapons have been used by the Syrian government since August 2013; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	North Down
tabling member printed	Lady Hermon
uin	207800
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p>There is credible evidence of repeated chemical weapon attacks perpetrated by the Syrian regime since August 2013. The UK was among the first countries to call for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to investigate these allegations. The OPCW Fact Finding Mission was subsequently established in April 2014 and its work is ongoing. Despite the difficulty of investigating these allegations in a conflict environment, the Mission’s May 2014 interim report stated that the available information “lends credence to the view that toxic chemicals, most likely pulmonary irritating agents such as chlorine, have been used in a systematic manner in a number of attacks”.</p><p>The August 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry report further stated that “Reasonable grounds exist to believe that chemical agents, likely chlorine, were used...[and that]... those agents were dropped in barrel bombs from government helicopters flying overhead”. Any use of chemical agents in warfare contravenes the Chemical Weapon Convention, to which Syria acceded in September 2013. We will press for all those who use chemical weapons to be held to account for these war crimes.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 08/09/2014 15:00:39 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1437 label Biography information for Lady Hermon

89776

registered interest
date	29/08/2014
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Syria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Syria.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	207135
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The humanitarian crisis in Syria has reached catastrophic proportions. The UN estimates that 10.8 million people are in dire need of humanitarian aid within Syria. At least 6.5 million people in Syria have been forced to flee their homes to other areas of the country and there are now 3 million refugees in the region. The UN reports that July 2014 was the deadliest month in Syria since the start of the conflict in March 2011, with over 1000 reported civilian deaths.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Putney answering member printed Justine Greening question first answered 04/09/2014 15:31:07 answering member 1555 label Biography information for Justine Greening
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

79569

registered interest
date	23/07/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Syria
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the security of the mainly Kurdish cantons of north and east Syria, and in particular of the risk of attacks by Islamic extremists.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL1467
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/07/2014 answer text <p>The Kurdish Democratic Party (PYD) in Syria and associated armed groupings have effectively been in control of most of the Kurdish areas in North-East Syria since they unilaterally declared autonomy in November 2013.</p><p>We are aware of reports of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (also known as ISIS – the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) attacks on Kurdish forces in Kobane and other areas in Northern and Eastern Syria. Reports suggest that the attacks in Kobane began on 7 July, and that ISIL has employed heavy weapons seized from Iraqi Security Forces. ISIL is a serious threat in Syria and Iraq. We remain concerned that their access to more sophisticated weaponry, a swelling of their ranks and improved morale will now place them in a stronger position to threaten all those in Syria, regardless of their affiliation. Primary responsibility for this situation lies with the Assad regime whose actions have fuelled extremism in Syria.</p><p>The UK remains committed to supporting the moderate opposition in Syria to bolster them against the regime and against the extremists, and to help bring about a political solution, which remains the only way to achieve a sustainable resolution to the crisis.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 30/07/2014 11:41:54 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

77985

registered interest
date	15/07/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Syria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what level of assistance his Department has provided to rebels in Syria; what form such support has taken; and what steps he is taking to prevent its misuse.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	205892
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p>We have provided more than £20 million this year to support the moderate opposition, including the National Coalition who we recognise as the sole legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. In May this year the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), laid a written ministerial statement before Parliament announcing the lifting of the temporary hold on gifting to the Supreme Military Council and the intention to resume delivery of £1 million of non-lethal equipment as soon as is practical. Recipients of this assistance have been carefully selected to prevent equipment being given to those involved in extremist activities or human rights violations. The UK is not supplying weapons to anybody in Syria. <br><br>The equipment we provide, including to the armed opposition groups, has undergone intense scrutiny to ensure that we are providing the best possible support and that we meet all our national and international obligations. The equipment has been scrutinised to ensure its provision is consistent with export controls under the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria and EU restrictions on the provision of goods to Syria (as agreed by Member States on 27 May 2013). <br><br>We have also supported the opposition’s political umbrella group, the National Coalition, with advisory and practical support. This has included strategic communications advice, and advice on internal governance arrangements. We have also supported the National Coalition’s delivery arm, the Interim Government, as they expand their plans to deliver services in opposition-held areas inside Syria. We have also funded a range of projects in support of civil society and activist groups both inside and outside Syria, which have included those documenting human rights abuses. The then Foreign Secretary announced in May that we would spend £30 million in support to the Syrian opposition and to bolster regional security.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 22/07/2014 12:35:52 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

77998

registered interest
date	15/07/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Syria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the newly elected President of the Syrian National Council.
tabling member constituency	Wrexham
tabling member printed	Ian Lucas
uin	205844
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p>We are in constant contact with the Syrian opposition, including with the newly-elected President of the National Coalition, Hadi al-Bahra. We are increasing our support for them, as they counter the threats from extremists and Assad’s regime. UK Special Representative to Syria, Jon Wilks, met President al-Bahra on 10 and 15 July. In these discussions Mr Wilks stressed the UK’s strong support for the National Coalition’s goal of a transition to peaceful, democratic and inclusive Syria. I look forward to meeting and working with President al-Bahra in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 22/07/2014 11:57:54 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1470 label Biography information for Ian C. Lucas

77276

registered interest
date	10/07/2014
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Syria
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' report <i>Woman Alone</i>: <i>The fight for survival by Syria’s refugee women</i>; and of its assessment of the situation of Syrian refugee families in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan which are headed by women.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL1010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK welcomes the publication of this report, which highlights the distressing reality for women and girls affected by the crisis in Syria. Our assessment is that it accurately describes many of the hardships faced by refugee women who have become heads of their households as a result of the conflict, but also their resilience and bravery in the face of such hardships.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Northover question first answered 24/07/2014 14:21:57 answering member 2539 label Biography information for Baroness Northover
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool