Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 6 November (HL2663), of the 850 UK linked individuals of national security concern who travelled to engage with the Syrian conflict, what estimate they have made of the number who were affiliated with Daesh; and how many of those who have returned have been sent for de-radicalisation training.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Everyone who returns from taking part in the conflict in Syria or Iraq will be investigated by the police to determine if they have committed criminal offences, and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to our national security. Alongside criminal sanctions we have the power in certain circumstances, if appropriate, to mandate attendance in de-radicalisation programmes, which will provide intense mentoring and other kinds of support to challenge their beliefs, mitigate the risk and reintegrate them safely back into British society. Due to the sensitive nature of ongoing investigations and operations, we do not provide a breakdown of individuals of national security concern or the actions taken against them.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department has on the number of British (a) nationals and (b) service personnel in Aleppo.
Answered by Mike Penning
The Ministry of Defence does not hold any information on the number of British nationals in Aleppo. No Service personnel are deployed there, reflecting the position set out by the then Prime Minister in the debate in the House on 2 December 2015.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has received reports of children of UK nationals being held in Iraq or Syria because their parents or a relative is a member of Daesh.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
There are a number of British minors in Daesh controlled territory, some have travelled of their own accord, whilst others have travelled with their families.
The UK advises against all travel to Syria and parts of Iraq. Anyone who does travel to these areas, for whatever reason, is putting themselves in considerable danger. Those who travel abroad to participate in conflicts may be committing criminal or terrorism offences and could face prosecution on return to the UK.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the practicability of prosecuting potential acts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Syria and Iraq by radicalised UK citizens in British courts.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
As the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), said to the UN Security Council on 21 September, we are very concerned about the appalling crimes committed in Iraq and Syria and are committed to bringing to justice those responsible for alleged acts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. There have not been any prosecutions to date for such crimes in British courts. Most of the prosecutions of those returning to the UK from Iraq or Syria have been for terrorism-related offences. UK nationals can be prosecuted for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in domestic courts; but the practical difficulties involved in investigating crimes that have taken place abroad and apprehending suspects outside the jurisdiction will need to be considered by police and prosecutors on a case-by-case basis.
Asked by: Charlotte Leslie (Conservative - Bristol North West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of British nationals with Syrian spouses still residing in Syria.
Answered by James Brokenshire
We have made no estimate of the number of British citizens with a Syrian spouse or partner residing in Syria. In 2015, 88 settlement visas were granted to the Syrian spouse or partner of a British citizen or person settled in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why 450 British extremists who have been, or are believed to have been, fighting in Syria have been permitted to re-enter the UK, and why only three of those individuals have been charged with terrorist offences.
Answered by Lord Bates
Approximately 800 British nationals have travelled to Syria to take part in the conflict since it began, and of those who are known to have travelled about half have returned.
It is a general convention of international law that a state should allow entry of its own citizens.
However, everyone who returns from taking part in the conflict in Syria or Iraq – which includes those who voluntarily decide to live in areas controlled by ISIL – must expect to be subject to review by the police to determine if they have committed criminal offences abroad, and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to our national security.
British citizens and residents who commit offences abroad can be prosecuted under a wide range of terrorism and criminal law offences including training for terrorism and murder.
Decisions on charging are taken independently on a case-by-case basis by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Asked by: Jim Cunningham (Labour - Coventry South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations she has made to her Turkish counterpart on developing a joint strategy to prevent UK nationals crossing over the border with Turkey into Syria.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The Home Secretary and Home Office officials frequently meet with international partners, including Turkey, to discuss issues related to counter-terrorism. Turkey is a key partner in the fight against terrorism and we work closely with them to prevent UK nationals travelling to Syria for the purposes of terrorism. Discussions with Turkish counterparts have focused on cooperation on border security, law enforcement and stopping the travel of British nationals into Syria.
Asked by: Jim Cunningham (Labour - Coventry South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of UK nationals who have crossed into Syria from the Turkish border and have since returned to the UK in the last 12 months.
Answered by James Brokenshire
Figures on how many UK nationals have crossed into Syria from the Turkish border and returned to the UK in the last 12 months are not available.
However, we are aware of around 700 people from the UK who are of concern to the Police and Security Services and who are thought to have travelled to the region since the start of the conflict. We estimate that around half of those have returned.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many British nationals are estimated to have travelled abroad to Syria and Iraq to join extremist groups since October 2014; how many have since returned to the United Kingdom; and what is the total number of such people who remain in Syria.
Answered by Lord Bates
Around 700 people who are of concern to the Police and Security Services are thought to have travelled to the region since the start of the conflict. We estimate that around half of those have returned.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her most recent estimate is of the number of British nationals suspected to have left the UK to join Islamic extremist groups in other countries.
Answered by James Brokenshire
We have stated publicly that around 600 people from the UK who are of interest to the security services are thought to have travelled from the UK to the region of Syria and Iraq since the start of the conflict. Given our longstanding policy not to comment on intelligence matters, we are unable to comment further on travel by British nationals to join extremist groups abroad.