Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterparts in (a) Saudi Arabia, (b) UAE, (c) Bahrain, (d) Egypt and (e) Yemen on the imposition of sanctions by those countries on Qatar since 5 June 2017; what steps he is taking to facilitate a negotiated solution to the dispute between those countries; and what assessment he has made of the prospects for restoration of full diplomatic ties between those countries.

I have been in touch with my counterparts across the region including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to discuss the actions taken against Qatar.

In the discussions I have had with all parties, I have encouraged dialogue as the way to resolve the situation. I emphasised that Gulf unity is the best way to counter extremism and ensure the region is a stable place to live, work and do business. Any demands on Qatar must be measured and realistic.