Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help protect civilians from harm in non-regime held areas of (a) north-east and (b) north-west Syria; and if he will hold discussions with (i) the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Syrian civil society organisations on this matter.

The UK supports those in need across northern Syria, working with partners to improve humanitarian co-ordination and access to enhance crisis preparedness. In the North East, we provide assistance to communities and IDP (internally displaced persons) camps to help vulnerable women and children and support early recovery and resilience building. In the North West, we support partners to deliver agricultural and livelihoods opportunities, as well as education services.

The UK Envoy for Syria and FCDO officials regularly meet with Syrian civil society organisations, most recently on 9 October. On 30 September, I raised security and stability challenges in Syria at a Ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh.