Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

The situation in Syria remains fluid, and clearly has wide-ranging implications for UK policy. Our top priorities have been to prevent further escalation, especially in the North East; support an inclusive Syrian-led political transition; and ensure continued humanitarian access.