Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2024 to Question 19312 on Syria: British Nationals Abroad, what steps is he taking to provide consular support to British nationals in Syria.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Consular support is not available from the UK Government from within Syria as all British Embassy services in Damascus are suspended. This makes it difficult to provide direct assistance to British nationals located there. Nevertheless, each request for consular assistance from Syria is considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant circumstances.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British nationals were in Syria on 11 December 2024.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware British nationals are located in Syria. Due to the shifting circumstances on the ground, we are not in a position to provide numbers.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the number of British nationals who are resident in Syria.
Answered by David Rutley
Since 2012 the FCDO has advised against all travel to Syria and we advise British Nationals in Syria to leave by any practical means. Consular support to British nationals is not available from within Syria. Nevertheless, each request for consular assistance is considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant circumstances. The FCDO does not collect data on the number of British nationals residing overseas, and there is no requirement for British travellers or residents to register with us when they go overseas. Consular data on assistance provided to British nationals worldwide is published on gov.uk.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British nationals requested consular assistance in Syria in each of the last five years.
Answered by David Rutley
Since 2012 the FCDO has advised against all travel to Syria and we advise British Nationals in Syria to leave by any practical means. Consular support to British nationals is not available from within Syria. Nevertheless, each request for consular assistance is considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant circumstances. The FCDO does not collect data on the number of British nationals residing overseas, and there is no requirement for British travellers or residents to register with us when they go overseas. Consular data on assistance provided to British nationals worldwide is published on gov.uk.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British nationals were kidnapped in Syria in each of the last five years.
Answered by David Rutley
Since 2012 the FCDO has advised against all travel to Syria and we advise British Nationals in Syria to leave by any practical means. Consular support to British nationals is not available from within Syria. Nevertheless, each request for consular assistance is considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant circumstances. The FCDO does not collect data on the number of British nationals residing overseas, and there is no requirement for British travellers or residents to register with us when they go overseas. Consular data on assistance provided to British nationals worldwide is published on gov.uk.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, If he will make it his policy to provide consular support to British nationals detained in North East Syria.
Answered by David Rutley
The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Syria. The Embassy closed in 2012 and therefore we have no consular presence within Syria.
This makes it extremely challenging to provide direct help to British nationals located there. But we carefully consider every request for consular assistance on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant circumstances.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of British nationals associated with ISIS detained in north-east Syria in areas under the control of the Kurdish authorities; and how many of those British nationals are children.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
With reference to my earlier reply of 26 April. We are aware that British nationals, including children, are located in IDP camps in north east Syria. Due to the shifting circumstances on the ground we are not in a position to make an accurate estimate of their number.
We endeavour to locate British unaccompanied or orphaned children, who are innocent victims of war, and work with partners to facilitate their return where feasible (taking into account national security concerns). Establishing their whereabouts and identity is not straightforward, but we have facilitated a number of such returns to the UK. The Foreign Secretary noted on 21 November 2019, following the first repatriation of children, that they "should never have been subjected to the horrors of war" and that their return home was facilitated "because it was the right thing to do." Each case is considered on a case by case basis.
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to repatriate British nationals held by Kurdish forces in north-east Syria.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We do not comment on individual cases. Each request for consular assistance is considered on a case-by-case basis and the support we can offer is tailored to the individual circumstances.
Asked by: Lord Dubs (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have, if any, that British nationals may be put on trial in north-east Syria.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government is clear that those individuals who have fought for, or supported Daesh, whatever their nationality, should face justice and accountability through prosecution in the most appropriate jurisdiction: often in the region where the crimes took place. Her Majesty's Government is not aware of any current trials in north-east Syria involving British nationals.
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the request by the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, for the repatriation of foreign nationals in Al-Hol camp; and whether they raised the number of British nationals in any related discussions.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government is clear that those individuals who have fought for, or supported Daesh, whatever their nationality, should face justice and accountability through prosecution in the most appropriate jurisdiction: often in the region where the crimes took place. Officials have reiterated this position in routine discussions with the local authorities in north-east Syria, including in relation to individuals who have travelled from the UK. We are aware that some British nationals are living in displaced persons camps in Syria but due to the circumstances on the ground we are not in a position to make an accurate estimate of the number.