Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the fall of Bashar al-Assad on the trafficking of (a) British and (b) other (i) women and (ii) children by Islamic State.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the present situation in Syria unfolds, we are working closely with partners to monitor Daesh activity and prevent them from exploiting the current instability, including through our work with the Global Coalition Against Daesh. Daesh's ability to direct, enable and inspire attacks is one of the most significant global terrorist threats, including to the UK, our people, and our interests overseas.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of repatriating former British nationals from (a) al-Hol and (b) al-Roj prison camp in Syria to prevent (i) further radicalisation and (ii) escape.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our priority remains to ensure the safety and security of the UK. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect the UK from those who pose a threat to our security. All requests for consular assistance from Syria are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant circumstances including, but not limited to, national security.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) help mitigate security threats posed by former British nationals in the (i) al-Hol and (ii) al-Roj prison camps in Syria.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the present situation in Syria unfolds, we are working closely with partners to monitor any threats, including through our work with the Global Coalition Against Daesh. Our priority remains to ensure the safety and security of the UK. We will not hesitate to take action to protect the UK from those who pose a threat to our security. This can, where appropriate, include the exercise of powers to disrupt the travel to the UK, of individuals who are assessed to pose a threat.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the heightened risk of former British national Islamic extremists escaping from the (a) al-Hol and (b) al-Roj prison camps in Syria following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad on the UK's national security.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the present situation in Syria unfolds, we are working closely with partners to monitor any threats, including through our work with the Global Coalition Against Daesh. Our priority remains to ensure the safety and security of the UK. We will not hesitate to take action to protect the UK from those who pose a threat to our security. This can, where appropriate, include the exercise of powers to disrupt the travel to the UK, of individuals who are assessed to pose a threat.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with international partners on the long-term (a) security and (b) management of (i) al-Hol and (ii) al-Roj prison camp in Syria.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK continues to promote security and stability in Syria, to ensure Daesh's territorial defeat continues and they can never resurge. We remain in close contact with the authorities in North-East Syria and with international partners as part of the Global Coalition Against Daesh, including on mitigating the extant Daesh threat emanating from detention facilities and camps, including al-Hol and al-Roj. The Foreign Secretary attended the International Contact Group on Syria in Riyadh on 12 January where he emphasised the need for a political solution in North-East Syria, and for partners to co-operate closely to tackle the threat from Daesh.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to represent the interests of British farmers in global food security discussions.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
Investment in global food security supports stable, sustainable and resilient global food markets to the benefit of British farmers, exporters, and consumers. For example, for each £1 the UK invests in CGIAR, the world’s leading agricultural science and innovation organisation, UK farmers receive between £1.60 and £2.40 in benefits driven by increased UK productivity in the production of wheat, dairy, beef and pulses.