Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to secure the release of the Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in April 2014.

The UK remains committed to the search for the Chibok girls that are still missing, and to preventing such acts in the future. The Prime Minister announced on 14 May that the UK would provide surveillance assets and intelligence expertise to help in the search for the missing girls. The UK is committed to supporting Nigeria and its neighbours tackle the wider threat from Boko Haram. On 12 June we hosted a ministerial meeting for Nigeria, its neighbours and international partners in London which agreed measures to strengthen regional cooperation against Boko Haram. These measures included establishing a regional intelligence fusion cell and coordinated border patrols. The UK also approved bilateral support including military and intelligence cooperation. On 3 September I visited Nigeria, where I met both President Jonathan and Foreign Minister Wali. In those meetings I expressed the UK's deep sympathy for the plight of the school girls and discussed further measures for securing their release. The UK will continue to work closely with Nigeria and the international community to tackle the threat posed by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram.