Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when their plans to grant enhanced trading status to eight developing countries including Syria will come into effect; and whether this will help the reconstruction of war damage in Syria, in particular to (1) schools, (2) hospitals, and (3) homes.

The Developing Countries Trading Scheme is expected to come into force in early 2023 and will include enhanced preferential tariffs for eight countries including Syria. Robust sanctions will ensure that where this changes trade with Syria, the regime will not benefit.

The UK has committed over £3.8 billion to the Syria crisis. We will not provide long-term reconstruction assistance without a commitment to a political process from the regime.

We will continue to offer significant humanitarian and early recovery support so ordinary Syrians have the means to build a better future, including through programmes such as the Syria Education Project.