To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Iraq on its policy of group executions; and whether he has drawn to the attention of that government the UK policy of opposing judicial executions.

[153582]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Iraq on its policy of group executions; and whether he has drawn to the attention of that government the UK policy of opposing judicial executions.

[153582]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many minors have been deployed to (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq since the start of British military operations in those countries.

[152056]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many minors have been deployed to (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq since the start of British military operations in those countries.

[152056]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many of the allegations of child sexual offences made by (a) service personnel and (b) civilian staff based in Iraq in each year since 2005 (i) were referred for prosecution and (ii) resulted in a conviction; and if he will...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many of the allegations of child sexual offences made by (a) service personnel and (b) civilian staff based in Iraq in each year since 2005 (i) were referred for prosecution and (ii) resulted in a conviction; and if he will...

(2) how many of the allegations of child sexual offences made against (a) service personnel and (b) civilian staff based in Iraq in each year since 2005 (i) were referred for prosecution and (ii) resulted in a conviction; and if he will make a statement;

[137684]

Mrs Moon:

(2) how many of the allegations of child sexual offences made against (a) service personnel and (b) civilian staff based in Iraq in each year since 2005 (i) were referred for prosecution and (ii) resulted in a conviction; and if he will make a statement;

[137684]

Mrs Moon:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2013, Official Report, column 349W, on public interest lawyers, how much of the legal aid payments made to public interest lawyers by the Legal Services Commission related to cases involving claims against the Government by...

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2013, Official Report, column 349W, on public interest lawyers, how much of the legal aid payments made to public interest lawyers by the Legal Services Commission related to cases involving claims against the Government by...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any representative of the Government has visited (a) Camp Ashraf and (b) Camp Liberty in Iraq.

[152186]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any representative of the Government has visited (a) Camp Ashraf and (b) Camp Liberty in Iraq.

[152186]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations the UN has made to the UK on granting asylum to residents of Camp Liberty in Iraq.

[152184]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations the UN has made to the UK on granting asylum to residents of Camp Liberty in Iraq.

[152184]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 12 March (WA 56), how many individuals have been deported to (1) Iran, (2) Iraq, and (3) Afghanistan, in each of the last ten years as a result of requests for asylum being refused.[HL6600]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 12 March (WA 56), how many individuals have been deported to (1) Iran, (2) Iraq, and (3) Afghanistan, in each of the last ten years as a result of requests for asylum being refused.[HL6600]

My Lords, I put down this Question for Short Debate in a context where the prospects of an end to the civil war and peace in Syria seem ever more remote. In these very sad circumstances the flight from Syria to neighbouring countries of people seeking a safe haven from...

My Lords, I put down this Question for Short Debate in a context where the prospects of an end to the civil war and peace in Syria seem ever more remote. In these very sad circumstances the flight from Syria to neighbouring countries of people seeking a safe haven from...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone, for initiating this debate.

The appalling humanitarian crisis in Syria is heaping significant pressure on neighbouring countries that are wilfully accepting refugees fleeing in search of a safer environment. I maintain very close links with the kingdom of Jordan and, as such,...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone, for initiating this debate.

The appalling humanitarian crisis in Syria is heaping significant pressure on neighbouring countries that are wilfully accepting refugees fleeing in search of a safer environment. I maintain very close links with the kingdom of Jordan and, as such,...

My Lords, I am very grateful to my noble friend for asking this Question. I found our visit to Lebanon, short as it was, very disturbing but in a few days I learnt a great deal, particularly about the special problems of the Palestinian refugees from Syria. Of course, these...

My Lords, I am very grateful to my noble friend for asking this Question. I found our visit to Lebanon, short as it was, very disturbing but in a few days I learnt a great deal, particularly about the special problems of the Palestinian refugees from Syria. Of course, these...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone, for giving us this opportunity to debate Syria in this short period of time. It is sobering to speak yet again on the situation of the people of Syria in the context of humanitarian assistance. It speaks to our impotence that...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone, for giving us this opportunity to debate Syria in this short period of time. It is sobering to speak yet again on the situation of the people of Syria in the context of humanitarian assistance. It speaks to our impotence that...

My Lords, I have just three points to make. The first concerns the humanitarian dimension of this crisis. The figures are horrendous. I shall not repeat what the noble Baroness has already said but simply note an acceleration in the number of refugees fleeing. There have been more than 40,000...

My Lords, I have just three points to make. The first concerns the humanitarian dimension of this crisis. The figures are horrendous. I shall not repeat what the noble Baroness has already said but simply note an acceleration in the number of refugees fleeing. There have been more than 40,000...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Baroness most warmly on raising this extremely distressing but challenging subject. I have every sympathy with the points which the right reverend Prelate has just made. It was the Duke of Wellington who told the House of Lords on 2 April 1829 of his...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Baroness most warmly on raising this extremely distressing but challenging subject. I have every sympathy with the points which the right reverend Prelate has just made. It was the Duke of Wellington who told the House of Lords on 2 April 1829 of his...

My Lords, I, too, thank my noble friend Lady Blackstone for giving us the opportunity to consider this dreadful situation. First, I make a plea that we take this opportunity to express our solidarity with the front-line humanitarian workers who are doing so much on behalf of the international community....

My Lords, I, too, thank my noble friend Lady Blackstone for giving us the opportunity to consider this dreadful situation. First, I make a plea that we take this opportunity to express our solidarity with the front-line humanitarian workers who are doing so much on behalf of the international community....

My Lords, I, too, congratulate my noble friend Lady Blackstone on securing this debate and I support everything that she said. I declare my interest as an adviser to the Council for European and Palestinian Relations, under whose auspices our parliamentary delegation recently went to Lebanon. The Syrian conflict is...

My Lords, I, too, congratulate my noble friend Lady Blackstone on securing this debate and I support everything that she said. I declare my interest as an adviser to the Council for European and Palestinian Relations, under whose auspices our parliamentary delegation recently went to Lebanon. The Syrian conflict is...

My Lords, I too thank the noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone, for tabling today’s Question. As we have heard in this debate, there is an escalating humanitarian crisis in Syria. The situation is spiralling out of control, leaving relief agencies overstretched and struggling to cope. I thank all my noble friends...

My Lords, I too thank the noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone, for tabling today’s Question. As we have heard in this debate, there is an escalating humanitarian crisis in Syria. The situation is spiralling out of control, leaving relief agencies overstretched and struggling to cope. I thank all my noble friends...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for securing this debate. The scale of the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region has reached

catastrophic proportions. We already have a protracted humanitarian emergency. While the suffering of ordinary people increases, humanitarian operations on the ground are becoming ever more constricted,...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for securing this debate. The scale of the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region has reached

catastrophic proportions. We already have a protracted humanitarian emergency. While the suffering of ordinary people increases, humanitarian operations on the ground are becoming ever more constricted,...

Lords question for short debate on what assessment they have made of the short and long-term implications of the large influx of refugees from Syria into neighbouring countries for those countries; and what steps they are taking to work with the international community to provide improved humanitarian aid.

Lords question for short debate on what assessment they have made of the short and long-term implications of the large influx of refugees from Syria into neighbouring countries for those countries; and what steps they are taking to work with the international community to provide improved humanitarian aid.

I am aware that my hon. Friend was in Iraq recently for the commemoration on the 25th anniversary of this dreadful massacre, and he also spoke with great passion in a recent debate in the House. Following the incident, there were extensive UN and UK investigations into the use of chemical weapons and any involvement

of UK companies. Those inquiries were fairly comprehensive and did not illustrate any UK involvement. From a UK point of view, I am not sure that any further inquiries are necessary.

I am aware that my hon. Friend was in Iraq recently for the commemoration on the 25th anniversary of this dreadful massacre, and he also spoke with great passion in a recent debate in the House. Following the incident, there were extensive UN and UK investigations into the use of chemical weapons and any involvement

of UK companies. Those inquiries were fairly comprehensive and did not illustrate any UK involvement. From a UK point of view, I am not sure that any further inquiries are necessary.