To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government provides to assist Tunisia's transition towards democracy; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government provides to assist Tunisia's transition towards democracy; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which UK strategic export control licences to Tunisia are currently extant; and what the nature and quantity of the licensed goods or services are in each licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which UK strategic export control licences to Tunisia are currently extant; and what the nature and quantity of the licensed goods or services are in each licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK Government is taking to increase trading links with Tunisia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK Government is taking to increase trading links with Tunisia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) discussions he has had with and (b) representations he has made to his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the necessity for Saudi authorities to return former President Ben Ali to Tunisia to face outstanding charges against him.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) discussions he has had with and (b) representations he has made to his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the necessity for Saudi authorities to return former President Ben Ali to Tunisia to face outstanding charges against him.

Lords debate on motion to take note of recent developments in the Middle East. Agreed to on question.

Lords debate on motion to take note of recent developments in the Middle East. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I welcome this long-awaited debate and congratulate the Minister as usual on his tour d’horizon. My only concern is the short time for the debate, which meant that even the Minister could mention only Israel/ Palestine and the Iranian crisis at the very end of his speech. In...

My Lords, I welcome this long-awaited debate and congratulate the Minister as usual on his tour d’horizon. My only concern is the short time for the debate, which meant that even the Minister could mention only Israel/ Palestine and the Iranian crisis at the very end of his speech. In...

My Lords, in following my noble friend, I agree with her that if you look at any subject in Israel, you will find a wide range of opinion. That is in the nature of the Israeli political process. There are 12 different political groups in the Knesset and only one...

My Lords, in following my noble friend, I agree with her that if you look at any subject in Israel, you will find a wide range of opinion. That is in the nature of the Israeli political process. There are 12 different political groups in the Knesset and only one...

That this House takes note of recent developments in the Middle East.

That this House takes note of recent developments in the Middle East.

My Lords, the purpose of this debate is to reflect on the momentous events of the past 15 months in the Middle East and North Africa and their implications for our own security and prosperity. Of course, the past 15 months represent only the very beginning of the process of...

My Lords, the purpose of this debate is to reflect on the momentous events of the past 15 months in the Middle East and North Africa and their implications for our own security and prosperity. Of course, the past 15 months represent only the very beginning of the process of...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing the debate and for the comprehensive and very helpful way in which he did so. I declare an interest as a chairman of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, and other interests listed in the Register. As the noble Lord said, the Arab...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing the debate and for the comprehensive and very helpful way in which he did so. I declare an interest as a chairman of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, and other interests listed in the Register. As the noble Lord said, the Arab...

My Lords, I am delighted to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Symons, and her formidable tour d’horizon based on her tremendous knowledge and experience of the Middle East. I will start by making a few general reflections before coming to one or two specific points. I agree with the Minister...

My Lords, I am delighted to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Symons, and her formidable tour d’horizon based on her tremendous knowledge and experience of the Middle East. I will start by making a few general reflections before coming to one or two specific points. I agree with the Minister...

My Lords, I, too, thank the Minister for his expansive coverage of the countries of the Middle East in today’s debate. I will focus on only three countries. Noble Lords will note the expansive talent on these Benches and several colleagues will comment on other parts of the region. My...

My Lords, I, too, thank the Minister for his expansive coverage of the countries of the Middle East in today’s debate. I will focus on only three countries. Noble Lords will note the expansive talent on these Benches and several colleagues will comment on other parts of the region. My...

I wish to address my brief comments to trends in the region and how we can be a positive influence on them. In doing, so I declare an interest as a director of the Good Governance Foundation. The dangers in the region are clear and we all know them. There...

I wish to address my brief comments to trends in the region and how we can be a positive influence on them. In doing, so I declare an interest as a director of the Good Governance Foundation. The dangers in the region are clear and we all know them. There...

My Lords, it was with considerable optimism that we greeted the start of the so-called Arab spring a year ago, seeing in it a mirror of the events that freed eastern Europe from 1989 and confirmation for those who believed that democracy and liberty were indeed dormant in Arab countries,...

My Lords, it was with considerable optimism that we greeted the start of the so-called Arab spring a year ago, seeing in it a mirror of the events that freed eastern Europe from 1989 and confirmation for those who believed that democracy and liberty were indeed dormant in Arab countries,...

My Lords, one recent development in the Middle East was the peaceful transfer of power in the Republic of Aden. Aden and her neighbour, Somalia, are key to the stability of the region, and indeed to a far wider region beyond, including our own society, where we have many Britons...

My Lords, one recent development in the Middle East was the peaceful transfer of power in the Republic of Aden. Aden and her neighbour, Somalia, are key to the stability of the region, and indeed to a far wider region beyond, including our own society, where we have many Britons...

My Lords, Iran threatens world stability and the very existence of Israel. My noble friend Lady Falkner has given a very professional and detailed analysis of the situation. However, if one can believe Iran’s rhetoric, Israel should be destroyed. However, a large part of the political world appears to say,...

My Lords, Iran threatens world stability and the very existence of Israel. My noble friend Lady Falkner has given a very professional and detailed analysis of the situation. However, if one can believe Iran’s rhetoric, Israel should be destroyed. However, a large part of the political world appears to say,...

My Lords, anyone who has seen the reports on television and elsewhere about Syria must be appalled at the carnage that has been shown and must feel anguish, concern and great anger towards the Assad regime. There is no doubt that we all want to see a peaceful end to...

My Lords, anyone who has seen the reports on television and elsewhere about Syria must be appalled at the carnage that has been shown and must feel anguish, concern and great anger towards the Assad regime. There is no doubt that we all want to see a peaceful end to...

My Lords, noble Lords have referred to a number of factors that could be argued to have defined the Arab spring, which started in Tunisia and spread into Egypt and Libya—and now of course Syria—in a very complex and diverse manner. As with similar movements developing across the region, they...

My Lords, noble Lords have referred to a number of factors that could be argued to have defined the Arab spring, which started in Tunisia and spread into Egypt and Libya—and now of course Syria—in a very complex and diverse manner. As with similar movements developing across the region, they...