Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential consequences of proscribing Ansar Allah as a terrorist organisation on providing humanitarian assistance.

The Government condemns the recent attacks by the Houthis, and maintains that there is no military solution to the conflict. An inclusive political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and to address the worsening humanitarian crisis, and the UK is using its position as the Yemen penholder at the United Nations to further this cause.

Any decision to proscribe a group is only ever made after careful consideration is given to whether the statutory test – whether the group is concerned in terrorism – is met, and whether the exercise of discretion to proscribe is proportionate.

The Government does not routinely comment on intelligence matters, including whether an organisation is under consideration for proscription. The Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review.