Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Government has had with the Government of Iraq on (a) increasing the level of autonomy for the people of Kurdistan and (a) a possible referendum for those people on self-government.

​The UK continues to support the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. Ahead of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s referendum on independence, held on 25 September, we made clear to then President Barzani of the Kurdistan Region, and Prime Minister Abadi, that any referendum or political process towards independence must be the result of an agreement with Baghdad and in line with the Iraqi constitution. That remains our position. We continue to urge both parties to de-escalate tensions, promote calm and engage in dialogue and to create conditions that would allow substantial negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues in line with the Iraqi Constitution.