Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the security situation in (a) the Sahel region and (b) Libya on the UK's national security.

The UK is deeply concerned at the continuing instability in the Sahel and Libya. The UK is clear that UK interests will be supported by lasting peace and stability in the Sahel and Libya. I represented the UK at the first meeting of the International Follow Up Committee for Libya, briefing fellow participants on recent UN Security Council Resolution 2510. The resolution demands full compliance with the UN arms embargo and an end to foreign military interference in Libya. The UK has also continued to urge both the Libyan parties and the key international players to engage fully with the UN-led political process. As part of the UK's new strategic approach to Africa we are increasing our support to the Sahel, bringing together our development, diplomacy and defence expertise to help tackle the underlying causes of poverty and conflict in the region.