Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote stability and support the Philippines during its state of national emergency.

We have a strong and growing bilateral relationship with the Philippines, which covers a range of issues including peace and security, counter terrorism, counter extremism, and human rights. We remain actively involved in efforts to promote stability, particularly in the southern Philippines. During my visit to Manila last December, I met senior members of the Philippine Administration and discussed how we can strengthen our cooperation. We will continue to offer support, drawing in particular on UK expertise in these areas.