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 security situation in Egypt.

We assess there to be a high threat of terrorism in Egypt. To date this has largely been focused against the Egyptian security services. The threat is highest in the Governorate of North Sinai to which we advise against all travel due to the significant level of criminal activity and fatal terrorist attacks on security services. We advise against all but essential travel to parts of southern Sinai with the exception of the Sharm El Sheikh area, which benefits from its geographical location and the enhanced security measures provided by the Egyptian security services. We also advise against all but essential travel to the area west of the Nile Valley and Delta Regions, excluding Siwa, Fayoum and the coastal area. We continue to review regularly the security situation when considering our travel advice for the country. During the recent visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri to the UK, Ministers discussed the security situation with him and reiterated the UK’s commitment to working with Egypt on countering terrorism, including to tackle ISIL and the threat it poses in the region.