Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to seek evidence on whether the existing sanctions on Syria impede the reconstruction of essential civilian infrastructure and services.

​We keep our Syria sanctions under regular review and actively seek to minimise their impact on ordinary Syrians, engaging regularly with non-governmental organisations to understand the practical impact of the sanctions on the population. Exemptions and licences already apply to the sanctions regime in order to minimise any detrimental effects on ordinary Syrians. The sanctions are aimed at ending the violent repression of the civilian population in Syria by the Assad regime and pressing the regime to engage seriously with the political process.