Debates between Lord Swire and Angus Robertson during the 2010-2015 Parliament

Mon 4th Mar 2013

Syria: anti-Government Forces

Debate between Lord Swire and Angus Robertson
Monday 4th March 2013

(11 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

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Lord Swire Portrait Mr Swire
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It is not for me to question the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I think that somewhere inherent in his remarks was a compliment—at least I like to think so. I assure him that the Foreign Secretary, who as he says is better placed to answer these questions, will give him a full update on humanitarian assistance to the neighbouring countries to which he alluded.

Angus Robertson Portrait Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP)
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Advice to UK Governments has been that regime change cannot be the objective of military actions. Although there is cross-party consensus condemning the Assad regime and its brutality, will the Minister assure the House that proper respect will be shown to international law?

Lord Swire Portrait Mr Swire
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I wish only that President Assad showed any interest in international law, any law, or any kind of human decency—a decency that the EU and the countries that are trying to help the people of Syria are currently showing.