Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to help de-escalate the conflict in Yemen; and whether the Government supports a UN-led independent investigation into alleged violations of human rights by all sides of that conflict.

The UK has played a leading role in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict in Yemen, including bringing together key international actors to try to find a peaceful solution. The UK proposed a UN Security Council Presidential Statement (PRST) which was agreed on 15 June. This statement called for a return to UN-led peace talks and an end to the fighting. We support the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, in facilitating a credible peace process in Yemen and we are providing £1 million to the Special Envoy's office to bolster UN capacity to facilitate the peace process.

The UK is concerned by the human rights situation in Yemen and takes allegations of violations of international human rights law very seriously. That is why we strongly supported the Human Rights Council resolution passed on 29 September. We welcome the agreement of an impactful, single consensus resolution on the human rights situation in Yemen. This text has the potential to make a real difference for Yemeni people. We will work to ensure it is fully implemented.