Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the political and human rights situation in Egypt.

Our strong bilateral relationship with Egypt allows us to raise human rights concerns frankly when we have them. These rights and freedoms are essential for Egypt’s long-term stability, and we call on Egypt to implement its new human rights strategy. We welcome Egypt lifting its state of emergency, and will monitor closely what this decision means in practice.