Monday 10th March 2025

(2 days, 7 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Hamish Falconer Portrait Mr Falconer
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that moving account. The family in his constituency are representative of Syria, which is a place of many different minorities and communities with a long history of working together. I confirm that I am working with international partners, including the United Nations, to do everything we can to ensure that the violence on the coast stops.

Stella Creasy Portrait Ms Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab/Co-op)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

The Minister paints an extremely concerning picture of what is happening in Syria. On 9 December, the Government announced a temporary pause in accepting asylum applications from people from Syria, because of our hopes for the country’s future. In the light of what he is telling us, what conversations has he had with his colleagues in Government about what should inform that assessment moving forward and what it means for people in our country?

Hamish Falconer Portrait Mr Falconer
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

The events over the weekend are still unfolding. I am not really in a position to provide any further commentary on what they might mean in relation to other parts of Government, but I will return to the House when I am.