Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions has he had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the repatriation of British children and their mothers trapped in north east Syria.
The Foreign Secretary has discussed the repatriation of British children from north east Syria with Cabinet ministers including the Secretary of State for Defence, and these discussions are ongoing. The Foreign Secretary has made clear that the Government will seek to assist British unaccompanied minors and orphans in Syria, who are brought to our attention, subject to national security concerns. The UK has no consular presence within Syria from which to provide assistance, but we carefully consider all requests.