Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to help to prevent military action being taken against Syrian civilians by the Assad regime.

The British Government has been clear in its condemnation of regime attacks against civilians in Syria, including the appalling chemical weapons attack on 4 April in Khan Sheikhoun which killed over 70 people and wounded hundreds. We supported the US action against the Shayrat airbase on 7 April. We hope it will deter further use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. By destroying up to 20 strike aircraft, this operation will have reduced the regime's ability to bomb civilians.

The UK also continues to support the UN mediated negotiations on a political settlement. Only a transition away from Asad can deliver sustainable peace.