Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contacts they maintain with opposition groups in Syria.

We maintain very regular contact with moderate Syrian opposition groups, including those in Syria largely through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Syria Overseas Network and the UK Special Representative for Syria. We support the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces both politically and practically in their efforts to promote a democratic and pluralistic vision of Syria free from both Assad’s brutality and extremism. We also support a range of civilian actors including Civil Defence Teams, Police and Local Councils providing essential services in Syria in areas no longer under the control of the Assad regime. We plan to make a significant contribution to the US train and equip programme to help the Syrian moderate armed opposition counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.