Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Foreign Secretary has had with the interim President of Syria on freedom of religion and belief, and whether specific reference was made to the persecution of Christians in Syria and the wider Middle East.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK strongly condemns the terrorist attack at Mar Elias Church. The Foreign Secretary expressed his condolences to President Al-Sharaa during his visit to Damascus on 5 July. We have consistently underlined the importance of protecting all civilians, both publicly and as part of our engagement with the Syrian Government, including during the Foreign Secretary's recent visit. We continue to monitor the situation closely and advocate for the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief for all.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the evidential basis for the sum of £94.5 million in aid disbursement promised to the government of Syria at the recent bilateral meeting with the Foreign Secretary.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The decision to allocate £94.5 million in aid to Syria reflects our continued commitment to addressing one of the world's most protracted and severe humanitarian crises. Over 16 million people still require humanitarian assistance and 90 per cent of the population are living in poverty. The UK remains committed to the people of Syria and will continue to support the Syrian Government in its efforts to build a more secure and prosperous future for Syrians. A stable Syria is in the UK's interests.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the review of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and what format that review will be published in.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office’s Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May set out proposals for reform in a range of areas, including clarifying the application of Article 8 of the ECHR, further details of which will be set out in due course.