Oral Answers to Questions

Helen Whately Excerpts

Monday 18th April 2016 Commons Chamber

[Dr Phillip Lee (Bracknell) (Con)]

11. What recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on progress in the campaign against Daesh.

[Helen Whately (Faversham and Mid Kent) (Con)]

14. What recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on progress in the campaign against Daesh.

[Robert Jenrick (Newark) (Con)]

15. What recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on progress in the campaign against Daesh.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michael Fallon]

My hon. Friend is right. With coalition support, Iraqi security forces have retaken around 40% of the populated areas that Daesh once held in Iraq, including Tikrit, Sinjar and Ramadi, and as I said, Hit is in the process of being cleared. We are continuing to provide vital air support, as well as specialist training and equipment.

[Helen Whately]

Experience tells us that unless we get civil institutions up and running quickly after a conflict ends, we can end up with a failed state. What steps is my right hon. Friend’s Department taking to make sure that that does not happen in Syria once Daesh has been driven out?

[Michael Fallon]

Following the Syria conference held in London in February, there is now a stabilisation plan for Syria that we are working to deliver with our international partners. We are already working with existing Syrian institutions to try and restore stability, and we are working with communities on local government and civil defence, but stabilisation in Syria depends on a sustainable peace deal that protects communities from attack either by Daesh or by the regime. We are supporting that peace deal through the International Syria Support Group.