Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the progress of efforts to form an inclusive government in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

The Government welcomes the appointment of Iraqi Defence and Interior Ministers on 18 October, and that Kurdish Ministers have now taken up their posts. This completes the formation of the new Iraqi government, with representation from all of Iraq’s main communities. More inclusive governance will be critical in addressing the challenges that Iraq faces.

The UK will support Prime Minister al-Abadi and his Ministers as they work to build a more stable and prosperous future for all of Iraq’s communities.