UN Syrian Refugees Programme Debate

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Department: Home Office

UN Syrian Refugees Programme

Bob Stewart Excerpts
Monday 20th January 2014

(10 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mark Harper Portrait Mr Harper
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The hon. Gentleman says that many countries are doing more, but I do not know who he could mean. We are providing more support to the neighbouring countries in the region than any other country except the United States of America. Of the 28 member states of the European Union, we were until very recently providing more financial support than the rest of the EU combined. That is a record of which we can be proud, and on which we lead.

Bob Stewart Portrait Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con)
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I totally support the Government in the amount of humanitarian aid that they are providing, but let us be quite clear that the key to sorting this problem out is to stop the war. That will happen when one side or the other wins, but there is now a stalemate within Syria. Probably the only way ahead will be through a United Nations Security Council resolution. How are we going to get such a resolution, which would be the first step towards stopping what is happening in that very sad country?

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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The hon. Gentleman’s question was extremely interesting, but it was a tad distant from the question of refugees. Perhaps with a degree of licence, however, and knowing the dexterity of the Minister, we can hear his response.