Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the call by UNICEF for the freeing of 140 Kurdish school boys recently abducted in Northern Syria, they intend to take steps to assist their release.

The UK is deeply concerned by reports of the abduction of Kurdish children by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Such actions are utterly appalling and we call for their immediate release. These actions demonstrate to the world the true nature of this vicious terrorist organisation.

Tackling extremists in Syria is a priority, and we are stepping up our support for the moderate opposition groups who are fighting them, and helping the neighbouring countries respond to this growing security threat. Finding a political settlement to the crisis is more pressing than ever, so that groups such as ISIL cannot take advantage of the conflict to expand their influence.