British Embassy in Damascus

Lord West of Spithead Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I think everybody agrees that it would be a positive step, but we do have a special representative in Syria, Ann Snow. As I say, we continue because, as the noble Lord says, there is still huge humanitarian need in Syria. I was in Jordan recently, speaking to Syrian refugees who would like to return home, but they want to feel that they would be safe and secure, that education would be available for their children and that healthcare would be available. In too many parts of Syria, that is still not the situation, so there is a huge amount of work to do and we continue to play our full part in rebuilding Syria.

[Lord West of Spithead (Lab)]

Mr Lords, are the Government concerned about the seeming resurgence of ISIL, and what is actually being done about that?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We are, of course, and we take our counterterrorism work in Syria and elsewhere incredibly seriously. One of the best things we can do for Syria and the wider region is to do everything we can to make sure that Syria has a stable Government with inclusive politics, and that the improvements we are seeing continue. This is the best chance we have had for Syria in a very long time, and we need to work collaboratively with our partners and allies on the threats the noble Lord refers to, as he would expect. But vital to this is maintaining a secure and stable Government in Syria.