We continue to have serious concerns about Iran's support for terrorist groups, including Hezbollah's military wing and Hamas. Iran provides the military wing of Hezbollah with significant financial resources, military equipment, and training. Iranian support for Hamas reportedly continues, although at a lower level since Hamas decided not to support the Syrian regime. Iran's support to such groups is unacceptable, is in direct contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1747, and undermines prospects for peace and stability in the middle east.

We judge that thousands of Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon are supporting the Assad regime's brutal and violent repression of the Syrian people as demonstrated in Qusayr and Homs. Any Hezbollah involvement in Syria is simply prolonging the Assad regime's brutal and violent repression of the Syrian people. The UK unequivocally condemns these actions. The consequences of overspill of the Syria crisis to neighbouring countries like Lebanon has a seriously destabilising effect on the region as a whole. This is entirely contrary to the interests of Lebanon. It is vital that further contagion is avoided at all costs and a speedy resolution to the conflict is achieved as soon as possible.

The Hezbollah leadership openly acknowledge their involvement inside Syria. The UK unequivocally condemns these actions. The consequences of overspill of the Syria crisis to neighbouring countries like Lebanon has a seriously destabilising effect on the region as a whole. This is entirely contrary to the interests of Lebanon. It is vital that further contagion is avoided at all cost and a speedy resolution to the conflict is achieved as soon as possible.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), cannot comment on intelligence assessments.

We have condemned Hezbollah’s acknowledged military involvement in Syria. It is prolonging the Assad regime's brutal repression of the Syrian people and, by undermining Lebanon's agreed policy of disassociation from the Syria conflict, risks destabilising Lebanon. We also remain very concerned by continued reports of transfers of conventional weapons from Syria and Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon, including Hezbollah’s own claims that it possesses significant military capabilities. Any such transfers would be in violation of Security Council resolution 1701 and would pose a threat to Lebanese and regional stability.

We firmly believe that the evidence indicating Hezbollah’s Military Wing as a terrorist organisation, and an organisation that has committed terrorism on EU soil, to be compelling. This is why we believe that their formal listing by the EU as a terrorist organisation is fully justified. We continue to work closely with EU countries on this issue and want to reach a robust, collective EU position. Ministerial colleagues, senior officials and I continue to have the necessary discussions with our EU counterparts to achieve this aim.

The UK proscribed Hezbollah’s External Security Organisation in 2001. In 2008 the proscription Was extended to include the whole of Hezbollah’s military apparatus, namely the Jihad Council and all the units reporting to it.

It is Government policy not to comment on whether or not a group is under consideration for proscription.

The Government continues to believe that the appropriate response to Hezbollah's Military Wing for their terrorist activities in recent years, including in Bulgaria and Cyprus in 2012, is EU designation as a terrorist organisation, in line with our national proscription of Hezbollah's military wing. Ministerial colleagues, senior officials and I continue to have the necessary discussions with our EU counterparts to achieve this aim.

It remains our view that it is imperative that the EU takes robust action in response to the terrorist attack carried out in Bulgaria by members of Hezbollah's military wing on European soil. We are engaged in discussions with EU partners on designation of Hezbollah's military wing under the EU's terrorist asset freezing regime.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), also discussed the issue of Hezbollah and EU designation with both Prime Minister Mikati and President Sleiman during his recent visit to Beirut. They agreed on the importance of Lebanon's full cooperation with the Bulgarian investigation into the bombing, and the Secretary of State made clear that the UK does not believe that designation would affect EU relations with Lebanon or Lebanon's stability.

We are aware of statements by Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary General, Sheikh Neim Qassem. It remains our assessment that, under the overall leadership of Hezbollah Secretary-General Nasrallah, there is an organisational distinction to be made between Hezbollah's political and military wings.

I cannot comment on intelligence assessments.

The UK proscribed Hezbollah's External Security Organisation in 2001. In 2008 the proscription was extended to include the whole of Hezbollah's military apparatus, namely the Jihad Council and all the units reporting to it.

We welcomed the Bulgarian statement on the outcome of their investigation into the Bourgas bomb attack attributing responsibility to Hizballah military wing. This is an assessment that the UK. shares. As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), said in response to this statement:

“it is important that the EU responds robustly to an attack on European soil. Based on our national proscription, we believe that similar action by the EU against the military wing of Hezbollah would be an appropriate response and we continue to engage with our EU partners on this issue.”

We are concerned by continued reports of transfers of conventional weapons from Syria and Iran to Hizballah in Lebanon, including Hizballah's own claims that it possesses significant military capabilities. Any such transfers would be in violation of Security Council resolution 1701 and would pose a threat to Lebanese and regional stability.

Based on our national proscription, the British Government has continuously maintained that the EU must act collectively in response to Hizballah's terrorist activity. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), continues to have regular contact with his EU counterparts on this issue, as does the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May).

On 18 February, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister told European Union Foreign Ministers that the Bulgarian Government took it as a justified assumption that two members of Hezbollah’s military wing had been involved in the terrorist attack in Burgas last July. Since then we have received representations from the United States and Israel about Hezbollah’s activity, and we have called on our European partners to respond robustly to terrorist actions on European soil.