Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps his Department has taken to promote peace in Somalia.

The UK works closely with the Somali Government to support its programme for a more peaceful Somalia. This includes the provision of humanitarian relief, support for political reform and backing for the fight against al-Shabaab and transition to Somali-led security. We coordinate closely with international partners, including in our role as penholder on Somalia in the UN. The UK also supports stabilisation efforts in Somalia through our Early Recovery Initiative, which supports local political reconciliation and the immediate needs of vulnerable communities. During my visit last November, I [Minister Mitchell] pursued these issues with the Federal Government of Somalia.