Oral Answers to Questions

Julie Elliott Excerpts

Tuesday 29th October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hague]

We do have plans for that. The hon. Gentleman and I have discussed this matter before and, as he knows, the United Kingdom was instrumental in putting a commitment to such a conference into the nuclear non-proliferation review in 2010. A Finnish facilitator has been hard at work trying to assemble the conference. The atmosphere in the middle east has not exactly been conducive to doing so, but the United Kingdom will continue to press for that conference to be brought together.

[Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab)]

8. What recent assessment he has made of the effects of the conflict in Syria on stability in the region.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr William Hague)]

The situation in Syria is worsening. There are now more than 2 million refugees putting severe strains on neighbouring countries. One third of the UK’s £500 million humanitarian funding for Syria will go to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, and we are redoubling our efforts to find a political solution to the crisis.

[Julie Elliott]

What specific request for humanitarian assistance have the Government received from the Lebanese and Jordanian Governments?