Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has taken recent steps to adapt the Syria sanctions regime to enable (a) humanitarian access and (b) economic stabilisation while maintaining targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for human rights abuses.

In April, the UK lifted sanctions on some sectors, including trade, energy production, transport (aircraft) and finance, to help facilitate essential investment into Syria and support the Syrian people to rebuild their country and economy. Sanctions imposed on 348 individuals and entities linked to the former regime remain in place, allowing the UK to continue to hold Assad and his associates to account. The UK's Syria sanctions regime does not impede delivery of humanitarian aid and will help ensure the Syrian Government has the resources and access necessary to provide for its people.