Debates between Tobias Ellwood and Robert Courts during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Thu 26th Jan 2017
Yemen
Commons Chamber
(Urgent Question)

Yemen

Debate between Tobias Ellwood and Robert Courts
Thursday 26th January 2017

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record

Tobias Ellwood Portrait Mr Ellwood
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Again, in relation to that question, I will ask the Ministry of Defence to write to the hon. Lady with details of how the process works.

Robert Courts Portrait Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)
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Will the Minister confirm that the UK remains fully committed to diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Yemen?

Tobias Ellwood Portrait Mr Ellwood
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That is at the heart of what we now need to achieve. As I have mentioned, the quad met on 19 December 2016. I pay tribute to John Kerry for the work he did in forming the quad. We are now in discussions, and we will speak to the UN envoy about the quad meeting at the very earliest opportunity, so that we can get the parties back around the table in Kuwait and put in place a cessation of hostilities agreement.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tobias Ellwood and Robert Courts
Tuesday 10th January 2017

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robert Courts Portrait Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)
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T7. Will the Minister please tell me what Britain is doing to ensure that the lessons of the past are learnt, and that proper stabilisation and reconstruction planning is in place for Mosul once that city is liberated?

Tobias Ellwood Portrait Mr Ellwood
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We did not learn the lessons, or the lessons were not learnt, in 2013 when there was a failure to listen to the moderate Sunni voices. That is what allowed Daesh to develop. Extremism is flourishing across north-east Africa and, indeed, the middle east, and will do so unless we engage with those moderates to ensure that they are brought to the table. That is why planning in places such as Mosul and Aleppo needs to be done at once, before the guns fall silent.