Since the coup in February 2021, the UK has imposed sanctions on 25 individuals and 29 entities under the Myanmar Sanctions Regime. The UK is considering a range of further sanctions targets and other measures to hold the military regime to account. It is vital that any sanctions imposed have the desired effect of denying the regime credibility and reducing their access to finance, arms and equipment without harming the wider Myanmar population. It would not be appropriate to speculate about specific future sanctions designations.

We have made clear our strong objection to the National Security Law (NSL), which is being used to stifle opposition and criminalise dissent in Hong Kong. We have taken a number of measures in response to the situation in Hong Kong, including the bespoke immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)s), the suspension of the UK-Hong Kong extradition treaty and the extension of the arms embargo applied to China to Hong Kong. We keep all potential sanctions designations under close review. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions measures as to do so could reduce their impact.

The UK Government will not speculate on future sanctions designations. During his recent visit to Baku on 22 February the Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty MP, raised concerns over human rights in Azerbaijan with Foreign Minister Bayramov. This followed previous engagements by the UK's Ambassador to Baku and diplomats in London. The UK Government will continue to raise allegations of human rights violations directly with the Government of Azerbaijan.

The UK will continue to play a leading role in the humanitarian response in Syria, particularly following the earthquake in Syria and Turkey. On 8 February, the Government announced a substantial package of life saving support to affected areas.

Sanctions play an indispensable role holding the Asad regime to account for their most egregious actions. We will not lift them until the regime has changed its behaviour. UK and UN trade sanctions do not target humanitarian activity, medical supplies or food: they provide for a range of humanitarian exceptions and licensing grounds specifically to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid. Russia and the regime have previously hindered cross-border aid access, which could compound the humanitarian impact of this earthquake.

The UK will not consider lifting sanctions in Syria until the Assad regime ceases brutalising its own people and regularly committing atrocities and violations of international law, evidenced by the UN Commission of Inquiry ongoing reports. UK sanctions are designed to hold the regime to account, and encourage Assad to engage in the UN-facilitated political process. Our designations are carefully targeted, and applied only where there is ample evidence to demonstrate culpability. To guard against unintentional impact on civilians, UK sanctions include humanitarian provisions, such as licensing grounds and exceptions. We also engage with international NGOs to minimise over-compliance.

The UK is a longstanding supporter of an arms embargo on Myanmar, and we have had a comprehensive embargo in place for many years. The UK helped secure an EU arms embargo on Myanmar following the 2017 Rohingya crisis. Since we left the EU, we have transitioned this into domestic law.

Following the February 2021 coup, we have intensified efforts to stem the international flow of weapons reaching Myanmar, and have encouraged other countries to join this action. On 5 May, the UK secured a G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting Communiqué that committed G7 members to continue to prevent the supply of arms and technical assistance to the military. On 18 June, the UK worked to secure an unprecedented UN General Assembly Resolution, signed up to by 119 countries, which committed to preventing the flow of arms to Myanmar. On 26 November, in coordination with partners, we released a further statement which committed to preventing the flow of arms, dual-use goods and technical assistance reaching the military. We also have extensive targeted sanctions on the military and its business interests, including on multiple institutions responsible for procuring weapons from abroad. The UK will continue to work with partners, including the EU, to exert pressure on those responsible.

The UK has been at the forefront of the international sanctions response. Since 1 February, the UK has worked in partnership with the US, Canada and the EU, to impose sanctions on the junta. Immediately after the coup the UK used both the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime and the Myanmar geographic regime to quickly impose sanctions. The UK laid new sanctions regulations in April to allow us to better target the military's interests. We have sanctioned the junta's ruling body and its military leadership; as well as key revenue streams for the military, including three State Owned Enterprises, a high profile business associate, the two largest military conglomerates, and defence entities which arm and equip the military. These sanctions send a strong political message in opposition to the coup and undermine the credibility of the junta. They also target the military's funding streams and show solidarity with the domestic boycott movement.

The UK stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their call for democracy. To this end the UK is working to ensure a strong and coordinated international response. As well as sanctions, the UK has secured strong statements through the G7 and UN Security Council. Most recently we secured a UN Security Council Press Statement on 10 November urging the military to end violence, protect civilians and ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. We worked to secure G7 Statements and a UN General Assembly Resolution on preventing the flow of arms to Myanmar and continue to work with partners to put pressure on those selling arms to the military. We are engaging with pro-democracy voices, including the NUG who the Minister for Asia met on 4 November. We are bolstering support to human rights monitoring and evidence gathering, including providing £500,000 to the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, to ensure that there is a spotlight on human rights violations by the military. The UK has provided humanitarian assistance to over 500,000 people since the coup. Our humanitarian assistance includes water and sanitation, nutrition and lifesaving food. Our work on livelihoods, financial inclusion and food security continues to focus on reaching the most vulnerable and in the first half of 2021 has reached over 3 million households. The UK is supporting diverse civil society and pro-democracy voices, including women's rights organisations, LGBT+ groups and youth, to enable them to contribute to peacebuilding and to build a common vision for the future. We will continue to work closely with partners, particularly in ASEAN, to seek a resolution to the crisis in Myanmar.

We strongly condemn the actions of the Sudanese military on 25 October to detain Prime Minister Hamdok and members of the civilian government, declare a state of emergency and unilaterally dissolve the transitional government. The actions of the military represents a betrayal of the Sudanese people and their journey to democracy. The UK will consider the full range of policy tools at our disposal to protect human rights and deter violations, including sanctions. It is longstanding practice not to speculate on future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce the impact of any action. We urge Sudan's military leadership to reverse their course, to release detained politicians, and to ensure Sudanese people can protest without fear of violence.

Together with partners, we are seeking a special session of the UN Human Rights Council as soon as possible in order to discuss the situation. The UK strongly condemns the military coup d'état and arrests of civilian members of Sudan's transitional government on 25 October. We have called on the security forces to immediately release those they have unlawfully detained. The Minister for Africa condemned this act in the strongest terms in the House of Commons on 25 October. We have since made public statements, including as the Troika with US/Norway on 26 October, calling for the restoration of transitional institutions, release of detainees and protection of civilians. Over the past two years, the UK has taken a leading role to support Sudan on their delicate path from oppressive autocratic rule to freedom and democracy. The actions of the military represents a betrayal of the Sudanese people and their journey to democracy.

The UK is a longstanding supporter of an arms embargo on Myanmar. We are clear that no one should sell arms to Myanmar. The UK worked to secure a strong G7 statement on the 3 and 23 February urging all countries to immediately suspend arms sales to Myanmar. On 5 May, the UK secured a G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting Communiqué that committed G7 members to continue to prevent the supply of arms and technical assistance to the military. The G7 Leaders' Communiqué of 13 June reaffirmed G7 unity on pursuing additional measures should they prove necessary. On 18 June, the UK worked with partners to deliver a UN General Assembly Resolution which urged member states to prevent the flow of arms to Myanmar. We will continue to work closely with partners and through multilateral institutions, such as the UN Security Council, to apply pressure directly on those who sell arms to the military.

Her Majesty's Government assesses that the UK's targeted Syria sanctions, alongside those of other countries, increase pressure on the Assad regime to engage with the UN-facilitated political process as the only way to resolve the conflict for all Syrians. We also understand that many Syrians welcome efforts to increase accountability for those responsible for suffering in Syria, including the regime's repression of civilians and the use of chemical weapons.

We continue seeking to minimise any negative impact of sanctions on ordinary Syrians, in line with our position as a leading humanitarian donor to the crisis, having committed over £3.7 billion in response. The UK does not sanction medicine, medical equipment or medical assistance, and items required to fight the COVID-19 pandemic are not subject to direct restrictions on export, supply, financing or use in Syria.

My Lords, the Government will report to Parliament on UK sanctions regimes annually. If the UK determines that it is no longer appropriate to maintain an autonomous sanctions regime, the regime will be changed or removed. Periodic reviews will take place every three years under the Act. The UK-Syria sanctions are carefully targeted at specific individuals, entities and sectors. The UK and its partners take all possible steps to mitigate any wider impact of sanctions on Syrian civilians; for example, food, medicines and medical equipment are not subject to UK sanctions, and additional exemptions are available for humanitarian reasons.

My Lords, Covid-19 continues to pose a particularly significant threat in Syria. The UK is working closely with the UN and partners to adapt our humanitarian response. We are also supporting the UN-led political process, which the Syrian regime must engage with seriously for sanctions to be lifted. UK sanctions are carefully targeted at specific sectors and individuals to minimise their impact on ordinary Syrians, and these are regularly reviewed.

The UK remains committed to supporting a political settlement to the conflict in Syria in line with UNSCR 2254. Sanctions remain a key lever to press the regime to engage seriously with the political process. We remain committed to the principle of 'do no harm' with sanctions in Syria and seek to minimise the impact of sanctions on ordinary Syrians. We carefully target specific individuals and entities who are part of a new wave of emerging elites that have profited from the conflict. We do not sanction medicine, medical equipment and medical assistance. Items required to fight the COVID-19 pandemic are not subject to direct restrictions on export, supply, financing or use in Syria.

The Assad regime and its backers blame 'Western' sanctions for the failing economy in Syria. In reality, the regime has devastated its own economy through cronyism, corruption and brutality and must be held to account.

The UK remains at the forefront of the humanitarian response to the crisis in Syria and the region, and will continue to be so. We have now committed £3.7 billion to the Syria Crisis since 2012, our largest ever response to a single humanitarian crisis

As I informed the house on 25th of February, The UK is looking at a range of measures to target those responsible for serious human rights violations in Myanmar. Working with partners, including the US and Canada, we have sanctioned 9 military officers, including the Commander-in-Chief, for their role in the coup. Prior to the coup, the UK had already imposed targeted sanctions on 16 individuals for human rights violations in Myanmar.

We remain committed to the principle of 'do no harm' with sanctions, and therefore wish to ensure that any measures balance the risk of disproportionately affecting poor people in Myanmar and imposing a cost on the military. In addition as set out in the written ministerial statement of 25 February we are reviewing our approach to Trade and Investment in Myanmar, and while that review takes place have suspended all trade promotion activity. The Foreign Secretary and the International Trade Secretary are writing to British Companies active in Myanmar to make clear our expectation that they do nothing to support the military.

The UK is looking at a range of measures to ensure the democratic wishes of the people of Myanmar are respected. On 18 February, we announced the immediate imposition of asset freezes and travel bans against three members of the Myanmar military regime for their role in serious human rights violations during the coup. Prior to this, the UK had already imposed targeted sanctions on 16 individuals responsible for human rights violations in Myanmar. This includes the Commander-in-Chief and his Deputy.

The military's influence is pervasive across Myanmar's economy and we have long been clear that Myanmar needs responsible investors. Her Majesty's Government works closely with UK businesses to ensure that they conduct thorough due diligence to try and avoid exposure to military businesses. We will continue to work closely with international partners on next steps, this includes exploring further sanctions.

US Sanctions are a matter for the US government. The UK has imposed sanctions on Syria to end the violent repression of civilians in Syria. These sanctions send a clear message to the regime and its supporters, that we will not stand by whilst the regime continues to commit serious human rights abuses. We continue to impose sanctions on those responsible in order to maintain pressure for a political settlement to end the conflict.

HMG regularly discusses the situation in Syria with the US administration. On 22 October the Foreign Secretary and US Secretary of State, along with foreign ministers of other likeminded countries, issued a joint statement that made clear our support for a political solution to end the conflict, as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 2254. That statement once again reaffirmed our shared position that such a solution must preserve the territorial integrity, unity, and sovereignty of Syria. We will continue to use targeted sanctions to increase pressure on the Assad regime to engage seriously with the political process.

The FCDO remains in close contact with the U.S. and other partners regarding the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh region. We urge all external parties and friends of both states to redouble their efforts in support of an end to hostilities and to refrain from taking actions that risk exacerbating the crisis. A comprehensive resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is overdue. That can only be delivered through a negotiated settlement and not through military action. All parties must urgently return to the negotiating table to work toward this aim without preconditions.