Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the UK contribution to establishing democracy in Syria.

The lack of democratic freedoms in Syria is at the root of the current crisis. The recent elections held by the Assad regime were a parody of democracy, taking place against the backdrop of horrendous violence, and with many millions of Syrians disenfranchised.

Since its formation in October 2012, we have provided the National Coalition with practical and political support designed to help it become ever more credible and inclusive and to promote democracy inside Syria. We have also worked with grass-roots civil society groups and local councils in Syria to promote good governance at a local level. Our work with the moderate opposition is now more vital than ever as they face a dual threat from the Assad regime and terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) who want to destroy democracy in the region and replace it with an Islamic State.