Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Joint Statement on the Supreme Judicial Council in Tunisia by the UK Ambassador to Tunisia and others on 8 February, what discussions they have had with the President of Tunisia about his intention to dissolve the independent Supreme Judicial Council.

The UK believes that checks and balances are needed in all political systems and an independent judiciary is a core component of a functioning, transparent democracy. We have raised these issues with Tunisian Foreign Minister Jerandi. We strongly support the people of Tunisia in their pursuit of effective, democratic, and transparent governance. We have called for continued public commitment to and respect for all Tunisians' civil, political, social and economic rights, and to the rule of law.