Iraq and Syria: Religious and Cultural Heritage

Lord Campbell-Savours Excerpts

Thursday 10th September 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

My Lords, I agree with everything that my noble friend said. I pay tribute in particular to the dedication of heritage professionals in dangerous regions such as this, including the late Khaled al-Asaad, who gave his life to protect the treasures of Palmyra. We will bring forward legislation to ratify the Hague convention at the first opportunity. This is a new Government. The Secretary of State regards it as a priority. We are committed to protecting cultural property during armed conflict. Noble Lords will be glad to hear that our Armed Forces already act in the spirit of the convention and its protocols.

[Lord Campbell-Savours (Lab)]

My Lords, if the Government believe that oil is the main source of revenue, what are we doing to block it?

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

My Lords, there was a much wider debate earlier in the week following the repeat of the Statement by the Prime Minister on the many things that we are trying to do to help in this terrible conflict. That obviously includes trying to find a better outcome in these areas and to tackle the difficulties of oil and other issues.