Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 1 October (HL17712), what steps they have taken to minimise the impact on ordinary Syrians of sanctions on oil imposed on Syria.

The British Government has conducted an impact assessment for each listing under the EU Syria sanctions regime. These assessments were most recently considered collectively ahead of an EU annual review which concluded in June. The EU Syria sanctions regime prohibits the export of oil from Syria and support to that industry; and prohibits making economic resources (which may include oil) available to any designated person or entity. Exemptions and licences apply to this sanctions regime, in order to minimise any detrimental effects on ordinary Syrians, including to facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid. However, Syrians continue to suffer the Assad regime's economic mismanagement, for which the regime blames international sanctions. Sanctions remain a key lever to press the regime to engage seriously with the political process.