Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alistair Burt and Victoria Prentis

Tuesday 15th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Victoria Prentis (Banbury) (Con)]

23. What diplomatic steps he is taking with his international counterparts to end the conflict in Syria.

[The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt)]

We are working closely with the UN, the Syrian opposition and our international partners to encourage a negotiated settlement to the Syrian conflict. We support the non-governmental organisations and UN mechanisms gathering evidence and preparing future prosecutions for the most serious crimes committed in Syria.

--- Later in debate ---

[Victoria Prentis]

Save the Children and the Royal United Services Institute published an excellent report last week on children in conflict, which highlighted in particular the devastating effect of the use of barrel bombs. What discussions has my right hon. Friend had with our allies about a joint approach to civilian protection in civilian areas?

[Alistair Burt]

My hon. Friend is right to highlight this further aspect of the atrocities perpetrated on the Syrian people. As well as calling out such behaviour and considering international mechanisms for holding people to account, the support for civilians is necessary and, at the recent Brussels conference on Syria and the region, working with donors, we pledged to provide at least £450 million this year and £300 million next year to alleviate that extreme suffering.