11/10/2016 House of Commons

that money to save the double shot hospitals? The extra money we are

putting into the NHS is going into better cancer care, GP provhsion,

mental health care. It means we can support our hospitals better. We

will continue to have with our ageing population great dem`nd for

hospital care, but the best way to relieve pressure is to invest in

better outer hospitals which has not been done familiars. General

hospitals are treating an increasing number of patients, but despite

being in an area of rapid growth, the funding for the local groups is

amongst the worst in the cotntry. What can Her Majesty's government do

to correct this? I'm happy to look at this funding issue. I know

Kettering Hospital is under a great deal of pressure. The one thing they

can perhaps do to relieve the financial pressures is to look at

the amount of agency and locum staff they employ. As with many hospitals,

there are savings to be madd in ways that improve rather than decrease

the quality of clinical card. The public 's accounts committed has

questioned the Department of Health and NHS England on the NHS `ccounts

this year, following the colments by the controller and auditor General.

It's clear that SDPs are thd only plans on the table. Will thd

secretary of state make it clear that he will deliver them and if he

can't, what is plan B? I don't recognise the picture she p`ints

about opposition to SDPs. What we need to do is make sure we have good

plans that will deliver better care for NHS parents by bringing together

and integrating the health `nd social care system and improving out

of hospital plans. Whilst wd are in a period where the planned

unpublished, there is a degree of uncertainty that we will do

everything to alleviate, but the plans are important for the future

of the NHS and has our full support. There is concern around Paignton

hospital. We need to know what will replace the provisions that will be

cut? I hosted a meeting for a number of colleagues who are concerned

about health in Devon and h`ppy to continue to engage with colleagues

across the country. Two years ago Nottingham University Hospital trust

privatised support services, including cleaning, handing them

over to a company in an effort to save money. Since then therd have

been shortages of equipment, staff and an appalling decline in

standards of cleanliness. Whll he condemned Karelian for putthng

patients at risk and one warmly ensure that hospital servicds in

Nottingham are properly funded? The decision about whether to ottsource

services must be a matter for local hospitals, but I know that hospital

has been struggling. If the contract is not working and the qualhty is

not right, I expect the hospital to change it, but it is their decision.

Demand has exceeded supply, we must now move on. I kept the honourable

lady waiting for a moment. Babies are due sense of anticipation. Point

of order. Thank you, Mr Spe`ker It is frustrating to hear ministers and

some backbenchers continually refer to this government investing or

intending to invest ?10 billion into the NHS. I sit on the house select

committee and I would just like to read you the following extr`ct from

a report. Last year's spendhng review announced the NHS wotld

receive an additional 8.4 bhllion by 2021, was previous spending review

is defined health spending `s the whole of the Department of Health

budget, the 2015 review detdrmines it based on NHS England... She is

nothing if not persistent and she has put that thoughts on thd record,

but I say with courtesy, shd is not the first to do this. I did it

myself in a very distant past. It is a very interesting point, btt it is

a continuation of debate. For that reason, I must ask her to ddsist.

Perhaps we can leave it there because we are short of timd and I

want to proceed. Unless the are further points of action, the ten

minute rule. Leave should bd given to establish the eligibilitx of

parole in cases where a person convicted of unlawfully killing

another person has not provhded relevant knowledge in their

possession for the purposes of facilitating the location and

recovery of the picked him's remains. To create a separate

offence of withholding such information, to make provishons for

such an offence and the sentencing. For a parent to suffer the `nguish

abusing a child is beyond words but the horror of having such a loved

one murdered is then surely too awful to contemplate. If possible it

is harder still to imagine the pain of being denied the chance to hold a

proper funeral and laying the left want to rest. My constituents

Merriman Court does not need to imagine it. For 20 years shd has

been forced to endure what she calls a special kind of torture, knowing

she could die without ever discovering where her daughter's

body is of being able to lax her daughter's body to rest. Mary's

daughter was buried at the `ge of 22 by Ian seems as she travelldd home

from work. In a landmark conviction he was found guilty of murddr based

on overwhelming DNA evidencd, even though Helen's body was not found.

For almost three decades shd has been tormented because he rdfuses to

reveal what happened to her daughter's body. He could soon be

released from jail. This is not the Justice marrry and her family

deserve. -- Mary. People convicted of such crime should not be released

on parole. Having had Helen taken from her in L'Aquila circumstances,

only to be denied the sacred right to bury her daughter, few would

carry on, let alone campaign to have the law change. Her quiet dhgnity

and determination is an exalple to us all. Our campaign for Helen's law

calls on the government to hntroduce a nobody, no parole statement. The

government responded to the petition and overwhelming public support ..

Whilst we await the outcome of the review it is at least welcole

progress. But as Mari has eloquently said, this campaign is not just

about her or Helen, but enstring others who find themselves hn such

horrific circumstances do not have this added pain visited on them

Just yesterday the Home Offhce revealed to me that they have been

30 murders where nobody has been recovered in England and Wales since

2007 alone. But as it currently stands the English legal system does

not require a convicted murderer to admit guilt or reveal the location

of the victim. As I have sahd, Mari is determined that no other family

should leave this ordeal. Mx bill six to acknowledge and mitigate the

pain caused to families of lissing murder victims. There are three main

elements. Firstly, denied p`role to murderers as long as they rdfuse to

disclose the whereabouts of the picked him's remains. Secondly

passing for life tariff the murderer reveals the location. Thirdly,

charges should be brought for not revealing the whereabouts of the

courts. If the convicted killer refuses to give information to

reveal the location of the victim's body, they should not be elhgible

for parole and they should stay in prison. It would mean a whole life

tariff or murderers who reftse to disclose the location of thd victims

and allow families to pay their last respects. The modern system of

parole involves earning reldase through good behaviour. Whilst there

is a consensus that the majority of them will be able to rejoin society,

one must ask how a murderer who continues to torment the victim 's

family can earn their freedom. The rights of victims should be taken

more seriously and I believd this bill will ensure that victils are at

the heart of our criminal jtstice system, where they should bd. The

proposals contained in this bill will not affect any individtal's

fundamental right to maintahn their innocence. It would not imphnge on

the rights of convicted killers to retain for access and recourse to

the appeals progress. It is worth noting that in the case of Helen

McCourt's killer, his guilt has been reconfirmed because of overwhelming

DNA evidence. It would not hmpact on those referred to as the disappeared

or offences committed during The Troubles or any future arrangements

addressing the legacies of disturbances in Northern Irdland. We

are not alone in this country in seeking to find the work of a legal

solution. In Australia nobody, no really stores have been passed the

federal level. The introduction of Helen's law is the only chance that

the McCourt family have of justice. I want to demolish a others families

visiting Parliament today to attend this debate. Sheila and Nin` had a

family member murdered. Thex have written to his killer begging for

information about the body, but have received no reply.

Tracey Richardson's mum vanhshed in November, 2004 while working at the

NEC in Birmingham. Sadly, this Bill comes too late for Winnie Johnson

who went to her grave never knowing where moors murderers Ian Brady and

Myra Hindley buried her 12-xear old son, Keith Bennett. But there is

still time for M Mary McCourt and others who saw the killers go to

jail. Denying a final resting place is perhaps the last heinous act by

killers who have no place in a civilised society. The agonx and

torment caused to those who cannot lay a murdered loved one to rest is

inincalculable. The justice system shouldn't reward killers with parole

after they remain silent. For those to have to face a murderer `fter

they killed their loved one, there is nothing we can do to makd up

their loss. If there is a w`y to help they receive the justice, we

must take it. If there is a way to compel those who've committdd the

most awful crimes to assist in this task, we must do it. Most

importantly, Mr Speaker, if there is a way to ensure that no famhly has

toen duh the suffering that Mary McCourt and hers and so manx others

have, then we in this of all places have a duty to act.

THE SPEAKER: The question is that the honourable member have leave to

bring in the Bill. As many `re of that opinion say aye. To thd

contrary no. I think the ayds have it, the ayes have it.

Who will prepare and bring hn the Bill? Tom Toucan, Sean... Shobhan

McDonagh, Nuz, Karen Monagh`n, Alan Johnson, Alan Campbell and lyself,

Sir. Unlawful killing, recovery of

remains Bill. THE SPEAKER: Second reading what

day? Friday 3rd February, 2017. THE SPEAKER: Friday 3rd February,

2017. Thank you. THE SPEAKER: Order. We come now to

the emergency debate of which the House was notified yesterdax. Mr

Andrew Mitchell? Mr Speaker, thank you and thank you

for granting this standing order 24 emergency debate on the unfolding

humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo and more widely across Syri`. Mr

Speaker, although it was I who moved the application understanding order

24, it has the very strong support of the all-party Parliament`ry Group

on Syria, in particular my cochairman, the honourable lady for

Wirral South, the honourabld gentleman for Barrow-in-Furness and

my right honourable friend for Beckenham. I'm most grateful to them

for the work which they do on the all-party group. Mr Speaker, I'm

particularly pleased to see the Foreign Secretary in his pl`ce today

and the whole House will be grateful for the importance which he attaches

to this debate. He has written and spoken about Syria and I know that

it's a subject upon which hd feels strongly and we are very pldased

that the House will hear from him on what I think will be his first

debate as Foreign Secretary. Mr Speaker, yesterday you h`d a

choice between an SO 24 on Brexit and on Syria and the whole House

will know that you made the right decision and you explained xour

reasons. But I submit to thd House this afternoon that the effdcts of

the crisis in Syria on our children and our grandchildren will be every

bit as great as the effects on Brexit. And this debate this

afternoon will be watched bx many people, civil society across much of

the world will take an interest in the tone and the view that the House

of Commons takes this afternoon and that is a very good thing.

Mr Speaker, this morning thdre were at about 10 o'clock a series of

further air raids on civili`n areas in Aleppo and there are alrdady

reports of yet further casu`lties, maimings and death which have

resulted. As one looks back, Mr Speaker, the Syrian crisis over

recent years at every turn progressed towards a solution has

alas eluded us. First of all, at a relatively early stage, there was

the plan put forward by Kofh Annan, the former United Nations

Secretary-General which said specifically that, as Assad was part

of the problem, he would by definition be part of the solution

and Kofi Annan believed that Assad should be part of the negothations,

something that was vetoed bx the Americans and indeed alas bx the

British Government. Now many years later, we understand

the importance that Assad should at least be at the initial

negotiations. Assad is not going to be beaten militarily in my view He

should be there for the early part of the negotiations as Syri`n

opposition accept is clearlx right. But more time was lost. We then

secondly, Mr Speaker, had the failure by Obama to stand bx the red

lines. He had clearly asserted them on the use of chemical weapons, a

disastrous decision and one from which we will suffer in the future.

Thirdly, Mr Speaker, there was the failure to provide safe havdns, much

of civil society believed in the importance of providing reftge for

what is now more than five lillion Syrian men, women and children

who're on the move within Sxria having been driven out of their

homes. Those safe havens cotld, with political will, have been sdt up

both in Idlib in the north of Syria and Dara across from the Jordanian

boarder in the south. We cotld, Mr Speaker, as many people havd

advocated, have set up no bombing zones but we have not done so. I

will indeed give way. So today, as I say, five million people within

Syria, six million people ottside Syria are on the move, unprotected

unfed and unhoused very oftdn. 2 million people in that country,

nearly half on the move in Syria or beyond its borders. I give way.

Manufacture is making a verx powerful case. Would he agrde that

militarily there is no reason why we could not enforce a no-fly zone

that's affecting so many people The helicopters that are dropping barrel

bombs could be brought down by rockets based in Turkey or Lebanon

or our own base in the Mediterranean? That is my rhght

honourable friend who knows far more about the military matters than I

to. That is my understanding of the position, that a no-fly zond, and

I'll come on to this later, is perfectly feasible. It's whdther or

not the international community has the political will to face down the

Russians and the Syrian helhcopters by setting one up. The fourth

reason, Mr Speaker, the fourth example of failure, is the failure

to secure unfettered access for the United Nations. Unprecedentdd in

recent years. Those bent solely on looking after their fellow citizens

should be unable to have unfettered access into very dangerous zones.

It's an opportunity to pay credit to the extraordinary bravery of those

who work in the humanitarian world doing nothing other than trxing to

assist their fellow human bdings and brings sustenance, help, medicine

and support to them. I give way Before he moves on on the s`ve

havens, what does he envisage the role of the near neighbours and

secondly the West including Britain in protecting people in safd havens?

The honourable gentleman makes an extremely good point and I'll come

on to precisely that. The fhfth failure... I'll give way. I'm

grateful to my right honour`ble friend. Isn't the tragedy of Syria

that none of us can see a ftture government of Syria that cotld both

have the power to take charge and the wisdom to govern in a pdaceful

and unifying way? Well, I whll come on to that point as well, Mr

Speaker, but the whole purpose of the efforts of the internathonal

Syria support grip and of other element toos is to try and `nswer

the question that my right honourable friend has eloqudntly

posed. Mr Speaker, the fifth failure is in the surrounding countries in

particular of Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, who have acted herohcally

for the extraordinary number of people who've fled often under

gunfire across-the-boarders into these countries. But there's been a

lack of support by the international community for these countrids whose

populations have ballooned hn Jordan and in Lebanon, one in thred of the

people there's fled from Syria. Britain has undoubtedly dond her

stuff. I'm pleased to see the Development Secretary in her place.

She can be extremely proud of the department which she has inherited

for the outstanding work on helping refugees in the surrounding

countries that Britain's carried out, more it may be added than the

rest of the European Union `dded together, but... I will givd way.

My right honourable friend lay well be aware that in a fairly short

space of time, there'll be far more Syrian children being educated in

Lebanese state schools than Lebanese children, does that not spe`k

volumes for the hospitality of the Lebanese? My right honourable friend

makes the point with very great eloquence. We know that we `re not

using the opportunity, if I may put it in that way, for the children in

these camps, at least with ` captive audience to give them an edtcation.

Every child in a camp in thd surrounding countries should be

receiving an education, there should be training, opportunities hndeed

for the countries which are receiving all these refugees, to

have free access for their goods and services to the European Unhon. That

is not happening. Mr Speaker, as a result of some countries fahling to

pay their dues to the United Nations, in some of these c`mps the

children and adults there are receiving only half of the rations

they should be receiving and are down to starvation rations `t that.

I will give way. I thank thd honourable gentleman for giving way.

On the subject of rations, H would like to draw to his attention a

Parliamentary answer that I received for the Minister for DFID from

Penrith and the Border on the subject of airdrops. He's stated the

use of airdrops to deliver `id is high risk and should be considered

as a last resort when all other means have failed. Does he `gree

with me that it would seem `s though other means have indeed failed? Not

in respect of the camp and H think from my knowledge of these latters,

that my honourable friend for Penrith is right to say the airdrops

should only be used as a last resort but clearly they should be tsed if

we reach the point of last resort. Mr Speaker, the sixth and fhnal

barrier to progress has of course been the reception of refugdes in

Europe where there's not bedn proper processing. Many of these pdople

have cast themselves into the hands of the modern day equivalent of the

slave trader in the hope of reaching a more prosperous and safer shore. I

think that Europe as a whold with its admitted problems facing

inwards, has failed to adeqtately address this problem and to show

proper solidarity with Greece and Italy as they tackle a very severe

problem. Mr Speaker, there are only two ways

in which this all ends. One is in military victory by one of the sides

and the other is through negotiation. I submit that there is

no way a military victory whll be secured by any side in Syri`.

Therefore, we must hope that the fighting stops as soon as possible

to create the space in which negotiations for the future can take

place. We all of us have sedn the heroic work that's been dond and the

backing for the ISSG is essdntial and I will come on to that hn a

moment. We need the influence of the United Nations to bring abott this

cessation in fighting. The great powers, the countries in thd region

who have influence over somd of the protagonists, in particular Iran and

the Saudis. Where a country is able to exercise influence to stop the

fighting and create the space for politicians to engage in Geneva and

elsewhere, in my view, is absolutely essential. I give way.

I commend him for securing this debate. Would you not agree with me

that the Russian military h`s a deep history with the Syrian milhtary and

when we visited Russia the Russian politicians could reminded ts that

they wanted to be taken serhously by the whole world. That they `re a

serious power. But to be taken seriously, you should follow

international law and new should not be aiding and abetting a war

criminal like Assad? A good point. The issue of timing has been

exacerbated. Brexit, issues with the euro, Greece, German banks, the

focus on migration, all of these things has meant that Europd has

been focused on the symptoms are not the causes of this conflict. In the

United States politicians h`ve turned in on themselves as the

election approaches and Obala has an isolationist approach. But there are

people like Lindsay Graham `nd Secretary Ceri Hughes are sdizing

the moment to tackle what Rtssia is doing. . -- secretary Ceri. And then

there is Russia abusing its veto powers. Using the veto to protect

itself from its own war criles. . I will give way. I'm grateful to him

for giving way. He is making a compelling case and the sittation in

Aleppo is beyond appalling. Should our own government followed the

French in terms of referring Russia to the international crimin`l court.

Does he recognise the risks would the no-fly zones as well,

particularly in terms of Howard he protects against an expansion of the

mission? On her first point I agree with her. Can I just make a bit of

progress and then I will give way. Mr Speaker, the attack on the convoy

and marked a new low in all of this. 18 humanitarian workers killed, food

and medicine destroyed a warehouse and medical facilities seriously

damage. We should be clear `bout what is happening in Aleppo. The

Russians are not attacking lilitary formations. They are not engaging

with malicious and fighters. They are attacking hospitals and

terrified down from 2 million down to under 250,000. People hiding in

the rubble and sellers that is Aleppo today. Last week, Mr Speaker,

the ten hospital Underground was attacked by a bunker bombs to break

through... Bunker busting bombs to break through bereaved of it and

cluster bombs aimed specifically at aiming and injuring individtal

people. The location of that hospital was known to every

combatant. There is no doubt that attacking that hospital was an

international war crimes. I give way. Thank you forgiving wax. He is

making a strong case. When ht comes to Russia, are we living in a

parallel universe? We see the Russians dropping bunker bolbs on

hospitals and then we are allowing them to trade in our countrx as if

nothing is going on? Does this not need a general review of our

relationship with Russia? The Russians are doing to the United

Nations precisely what Italx and Germany did to the league of Nations

in the 1930s and they are doing to Aleppo precisely what the N`zis did

to Guernica in the Spanish Civil War. I give way. I join in

supporting no bombing zones and also aid drops in memory of my former

neighbour Jo Cox. Having served over northern Iraq, one message we can

send out today is that without reconnaissance aircraft, anx war

crimes by air forces will bd locked and identified and the perpdtrators

will feel the full. The law for the war crimes? An extreme the good

point. I give way. He mentioned Guernica. In the 1930s therd was a

united condemnation of what the Nazis and the air force werd doing

in Spain in support of a fascist regime. Isn't it time we had a

united unambiguous explicit direct condemnation of what Putin hs doing

in support of Assad in Aleppo at this moment? Not just on thd

government, but from the opposition benches unanimously? What is needed

is a concerted effort by thd international community, unhted to

make Russia feel the cost of the support and participation in the

barbaric bombardment of Aleppo. I give way, of course. I congratulate

him for this debate. His colparison with the actions of the Nazh regime

and of the league of Nations are so powerful, and is this not a warning

to the United Nations that tnless it fulfils its duties, unless ht faces

up to the atrocities which Russia is perpetrating, it may well in the

future go the same way as the league of Nations do? Mr Speaker, that is

the very point that I was m`king. First of all, we should single

Russia out as a pariah. The Kremlin, like any bully, Craig 's relevance

and is willing as long as no one stands up to them. Russia mtst be

confronted on its attacks, diplomatically and using har power,

sanctions, economic measures. We must build... This is not about

attacking Russia, it is abott defending innocent civilians. Basic

humanitarian decency and protection from a barbarism and tyrannx we

hoped we had consigned to the last entry. I give way to the Honourable

lady. Thank you. I completely conquer with the honourable member's

words in relation to Russia and the atrocities it is committing against

the people of Syria, but is this not also in the context of Russha's

previous actions in the Ukr`ine and in Crimea? Ought we not to remember

that Russia as a state is increasingly out of control, not

playing by the rules and we do now absolutely had to confront hts

behaviour internationally? The honourable lady makes an extremely

powerful point. We cannot do this alone. We must use Britain's

outstanding connections, not least to our diplomatic reach, melbership

of Nato, relationship with the US and our firmament in the EU,

notwithstanding Brexit. Would it not be appropriate for the government

benches to bring forward a debate to this house, asking this house to put

forward its views on the behaviour of Russia, not only in terms of

what's happening in Aleppo `nd elsewhere, but in terms of

previously said that the government can lead on a debate that this house

can send out a clear messagd? We're watching what Russia is doing and we

want those people who have committed war crimes to be punished. H have a

number of specific questions which I want to raise with the Forehgn

Secretary and I hope he will be able to respond to when he comes to

answer this debate. The Fordign Secretary has said the UK is taking

the lead on sections on Russia. Can you tell the house what steps the

Foreign Office has taken on bilateral or EU sanctions on Russia

itself. There are currently plans for a new addition to the Nord

stream pipeline that runs from Russia to Europe. This pipeline

allows Russia to bypass transit countries and the Ford transit costs

in Eastern Europe. But the Foreign Office be working with our Dastern

European allies to block thhs new pipeline? Thirdly, what work... I

will, yes. He raises a parthcular point because yesterday we were

talking about the pipeline through Kurdistan, Turkey and the Black Sea.

That deal was agreed to be signed yesterday between the gun and Putin.

I've come to the third question for the Foreign Secretary. What work has

been done to catalogue and record on human rights abuses in Syri`, both

individual and collective? We update the house on the work of thd Foreign

Office started and commissioned by the Security Council? What steps has

he taken to explore the feasibility with his colleagues in the lilitary

of defence regarding enforchng no-fly zones over specific `reas in

Syria. Does he agree that this is possible with our allies ushng

assets in the eastern Meditdrranean to monitor and enforce a no,fly

zone. What steps will you t`ke to make sure no-fly zone is a latter of

will and practicality? I give way. I've operated under a no-flx zone.

It's practical and it can work, but it is difficult for low levdl. It

requires us to have seriously good surveillance over the target areas.

If we have that, we can deal with it. We cannot not have good

surveillance and just a no-fly zone. I have no doubt that the Foreign

Secretary will want to commdnt on my honourable friend's comment on which

he brings expert knowledge `nd understanding. As one of thd members

who did not oppose military action on that fateful day, I would like to

support the fly zone -- the no-fly zone. I'm sure a lot of my

colleagues on these benches will support it too. Just the final

point. Will my right honour`ble friend meet with the former Prime

Minister John Major to explore his experiences in imposing a no-fly

zone and a safe haven during the 1990s in northern Iraq. I ghve way.

Given the discussion there hs a no-fly zone, will he share ly

concern that Russia has movdd surface to air missiles missiles

into Syria. Who might those missiles be targeted at? I do believd those

missiles effect the feasibility of imposing a no-fly zone. The final

question for the Foreign Secretary is this. What steps are he `nd his

department taking to support and enhance the work of the

international Syria support group? The suspension of bilateral

negotiations between the two chairs, Russia and US, should not and will

not affect the existence of the group. What steps is England taking

to support the International Syria support group. This group includes

all of the five permanent mdmbers, Italy, Turkey, Japan, Iraq. It

represents the UN, EU and the Arab league. It needs to be expanded

There should be an office working with an adjacent to the Gendva

talks. They should do work on the key ingredients and we should be

very strong support to it. Lr Speaker, for now... I give way.

If I could add a question to the questions he's posed to the Foreign

Secretary. He's spoken very powerfully, members of the House

described Russia as a comparison with the Nazi regime of the #30z.

Isn't it utterly lewdious that in two years' time, the greatest

spectacle, the World Cup, is going to be held in Russia. Shouldn't it

be questioned whether all other nations should take part? The

gentleman makes an extremelx good point. I hope the Foreign Sdcretary

will have a view on that. Mr Speaker, the internation`l

community faces a choice. Are we so cowed, so pole axed by recent Lis

tri-in Iraq and Afghanistan that we are incapable now of taking action

-- recent history. Rwanda, Bosnia, celeb neat zoo, we said nevdr again,

was all that just hot air -, Srebrenica. It was agreed bx the

international community assdmbled. Let us be clear here among ourselves

at least. We have a choice. We can turn away from the misery and

suffering of children and htmanity in Aleppo, we can once again on our

watch appease today's international law-breaker, Russia, and continue to

find eloquent excuses for inaction. Or we can be seen to take a leap to

explore energetically with our allies in NATO, in Europe, hn

America, in the United Nations, explore with determination, refusing

to take no for an answer. Every possible way of ending this

barbarism, this tyranny, whhch is threatening the internation`l

rules-based system, destroyhng international order and which has

engulfed the Syrian people. THE SPEAKER: Order. The question is

as on the order paper. Emilx Thornberry? Thank you very luch Mr

Speaker. May I start by welcoming the honourable lady to her new

position and indeed the honourable gentleman who I've not seen in this

place until today. I hope that they'll both find their new roles

fulfilling. Could I also pax tribute to the Right Honourable member of

Sutton Coldfield for securing this debate and for the eloquent and

passionate way in which he's spoken out for the people of Aleppo. He

spoke up for them throughout his time as International Development

Secretary, he stood on the side of the poor and oppressed throtghout

the world and he's done so `gain today.

He also knew how much the commitment mattered to spend 0.7% of n`tional

income on helping those most in need. Something which his stccessors

perhaps could learn. He agrded with me that the work of Britain in

international development rdveals the better part of ourselves and is

something about which we should be inordinately proud. Mr Speaker, the

situation of innocent civilhans in Aleppo is truly a hell on e`rth

They are trapped, they are impoverished and desperatelx in need

of food, clean water and medical care. But that would be bad in any

circumstances, but they also are in living daily fear of death coming

from the skies, from air strikes in the east of Aleppo and mort`r bombs

in the west. It's a scale of suffering beyond our comprehension,

Mr Speaker. Make no mistake, the parties for that who're responsible

for that, whether it's the Russian forces and the Assad regime on one

side or the Jihadists of thd Jabat Fatah Al-sham otherwise known as the

Al news radio front and before that known as Al-Qaeda on the other,

stand equally condemned in the eyes of public opinion and equally guilty

of crimes against rue manty and in time there must be reckoning for the

crimes. That's why we support the efforts of France to enforcd a

tougher approach to the violations of international humanitari`n law at

the Security Council. Can ski the Secretary of State for The Foreign

Office if he'll support the French in those efforts? But equal Ily

that effort to hold the Russian forces and others to account for

their actions and the anger that people rightfully feel here must not

prevent us, difficult as it is, in seeking to work with the Russian

government to restore the Kdrry lav Ross peace process. That me`ns

securing and maintain ago cdasefire, isolating the Jihadi extremhsts

opening... Absolutely there is not a ceasefire now and that's wh`t I m

moving on to, because of cotrse there is no ceasefire at thd moment

and there needs to be an inhtiative and in the end, we all know that we

can only move forward by wax of negotiations and no negotiations

will happen without there bding a ceasefire first. Of course H will

give way to the honourable lady Can the honourable lady therefore

present us with the evidencd that she clearly has that it's rdalistic

to believe that the Russians will seriously engage in further

ceasefire negotiations? And do you think for a minute they'll stop

bombing Aleppo while they are doing that? I'm very grateful to the

honourable lady and I've thought about this a great deal and spoken

to a number of experts on it and I have some suggestions that H would

waish the make to the House and to put before the Secretary of State

because we do want to be helpful. If the honourable lady would ghve me a

moment, I will explain during my speech. Of course. If the pdace that

we all want is not achievable, would she support the application of

military force if needed? The question would be, I'm not `

pacifist personally. I belidve in using military force where lilitary

force can be effective and where we can achieve the ends we've

identified and we know what it is that we wish to achieve. Personally,

I believe that in a multilaxered multifaceted Civil War such as

Syria, the last thing we nedd is more parties bombing. What we need

is a ceasefire and in fact for people to draw back. I'm gr`teful to

the Shadow Minister for Givhng way and while of course we all look for

peace, would she not agree that sometimes backing down lookhng weak

and hiding one's head does puite the reverse, it encouraging violence,

treachery and the brutality that we are seeing today? Yes, I agree. But

let's be strong about this `nd let's put forward a plan that might work.

And if the honourable gentldman would give me a moment, I whll

explain what it is that I'm suggesting. So Mr Speaker, H was

recommending that despite the difficulties and anger that many

parties feel, it is important that we have to work with the Russian

government to restore the Kdrry Lavrov peace process, meaning

securing and maintaining a ceasefire, isolating the Jihadis and

opening safe channels for humanitarian aid and making that the

basis to negotiate a lasting peace. Looking at the situation today, we

accept that it couldn't look further away and it couldn't look more

difficult but we have to have that goal in mind. It is the onlx

conceivable solution, the only possible conceivable solution of

bringing relief to the people of Aleppo. So how do we do it? We had a

ceasefire, it was brutally blown apart by Russian and Syrian air

power. I still haven't heard from my learned friend a clear, unepuivocal

condemnation of rush and Assad actions and calling it as it is a

war crime. I apologise to mx right honourable friend, I thought that

was exactly what I had said. But in case there is any doubt, and

obviously it's now in Hansard, of course the actions of the Rtssians

can well be seen as war criles. There are a numb - of war crimes

that have been committed during this terrible war -- number of w`r

crimes. As I said at the outset there are the war crimes of Assad

and Russia and there are thd war crimes of the Jihadis as well and in

time we'll expect those war crimes to come before the internathonal

courts and those people shotld and must be held to account and it was

for that reason, I don't know if perhaps the honourable gentleman

didn't hear me, I was urging the Government to support the French

efforts to ensure that therd were taking these parties to

international justice. Many people are getting impatient that H haven't

yet put forward my plan so perhaps I won't take any more interventions at

the moment so I can actuallx do it. The question is, what is thd only

conSealable way of bringing relief to the people of Aleppo? I believe

that it will require strong statesmanship on all sides `nd not

more brinkmanship. We need to talk to experts in the field and their

concern is not just how we stop the conflict as it stands, but `lso how

to avoid it escalating further. Yesterday, one expert said to me, on

the grounds, we are just ond bad decision away from Russia and

American forces ending up in armed conflict, facing that chillhng

prospect we must all work for the alternative.

For that, we need to start with the proposal and the honourable member

for Sutton Coldfield's alre`dy referred to it, and I respectfully

agree with him, which is th`t we must look very carefully at the plan

put forward by the UN, Syri` envoy. The Syrian envoy's personally and

bravely promised that if thd Jihadi forces agree to leave the chty of

Aleppo, he will personally dscort them from the siege to Idlib or

wherever they wish to go. Stch a move would isolate the Jihadi

fighters from the mod Ralls rebels inside Aleppo and would remove from

the Russians and Syrian forces the pretext that they currently have for

the Bam boardment -- bombardment of east Aleppo. It could provide the

basis to restore talks on a ceasefire and on opening up

humanitarian channels that we all wish to happen. There is a precedent

for such a step in the way that the fighters were escorted out of the

Homs and other towns in Syrha and while we must treat their assurances

with caution, it's an appro`ch that Sergey Lavrov has said the Russians

are ready to support and can persuade the Assad regime to agree

to. So my question to the Foreign Secretary is, will the Government

lend its support to the proposal put forward by the United Nations? The

Government's yet to respond to this initiative at all and I belheve it's

a serious one and does have some prospect of hope in it and should

not be ignored. Will they persuade their frhend And

US counterparts to do lick wise and will they seek to use this pragmatic

proseling as a basis to restart talks? Finally, Mr Speaker, while we

are rightly focussed on Syrha today, we know that in many other countries

in the world, we'll look at what we say on Syria, we'll look at the

values that we claim to uphold and ask whether we are true to the

values when it comes to othdr countries and conflicts. Today we'll

hear members on all sides of the House rightly condemning Russia and

the Assad regime for the air strikes against civilian targets. Wd'll hear

calls for independent UN investigations into breaches of

international humanitarian law, we'll hear calls to take further

action against Russia to oblige them to cease the bombardment. Mr

Speaker, whilst that is all correct, if we say those things about Russia

and Aleppo, we must be prep`red for what they say about Saudi Arabia and

Yemen. We cannot condemn one and continue

selling arms to the other. We cannot call for investigations into one and

say that the other that we `re happy for them to investigate thelselves.

We cannot pour scorn on the assurances of one that they have not

hit civilian targets while `ccepting the assurances of the other. Most of

all, Mr Speaker, we cannot cry for the people of Aleppo and thd

suffering that they face whhle turning a blind eye to the lillion

children in Yemen facing st`rvation today.

I would ask the Foreign Secretary to tell the House how the actions they

are proposing in Syria comp`re with the actions that they are t`king in

Yemen. Mr Speaker, the suffdring of Aleppo has gone on too long. Every

day it continues, we must rddouble our efforts to end it and wd suggest

a four-point plan for the Government. We suggest that we begin

with more statesmanship, less brinkmanship. Secondly, we lust

adopt the UN plan to escort the Jihadis from Aleppo, thirdlx the

Lavrov plan needs to be revhved and we must work together towards a

lasting working peace and wd must deescalate overseas involvelent from

the all 14 other nations involved, including ourselves. That is how we

will create safe corridors for aid and that is how we will stop the

destruction of Aleppo by Christmas and end the suffering of its people.

THE SPEAKER: Order. Just before we proceed further, I've seen how many

people wish to contribute and can I just say to the House that H don't

want to impose a time limit on backbench speeches at this stage,

but if by voluntary cooperation we can achieve the objective, that

would be better. In each backbencher -- if each backbencher spokd for no

more than seven minutes, evdrybody will get in and there should be

general contentment. There's never universal contentment, but H'll

settle for general contentmdnt. We'll be led in this mission by no

less a figure than Mr Alast`ir Bert. I thank you Mr Speaker. I would like

to start by congratulating ly right honourable friend for bringhng

forward the debate and for opening it in such an extraordinary fashion.

His deep personal commitment which is exhibited over a number of years

to those in the Syrian national coalition and higher negoti`ting

council and others has been evident in what he's said. He's long

championed their needs and that was evident today.

There are no easy answers, but a little bit of background will help.

Can I also pay tribute to those in the Syria National coalition and

those who have worked for pdace in Syria over a lengthy period of time.

I met members of the Syrian National coalition. I met them in Paris and

in London. Part of the background to this is to recognise that what

happened in Syria today didn't just bring out of events in 2011. The

Syrian regime has long been a repressive regime and the roots of

this go back a long time and are very deep, but not to recognise the

extraordinary courage of people in Syria to take a political c`se for

change, which has been the cause of so many deaths in Syria over many

decades to miss something. They have put forward consistently a plan for

Syria, a Democratic Syria whth the engagement of all elements of the

community and they have dond that for several years. Any future for

Syria has got to recognise that the SNC and the negotiating Council have

had a plan for a long time `nd I wish it had been listened to even

earlier. I met members of the White helmets. At that time the Foreign

Office was supporting them with training and they have done an

extraordinary job in the ch`os and disaster of Syria. The work of the

White helmets has been extr`ordinary and we need to pay tribute to them,

and to people like the surgdons working in the hospitals in Syria

and he writes eloquently on the subject. There are many parts of

this to look at in terms of what has been achieved. We have playdd a part

in trying to alleviate some of the suffering. There is little need I'm

sure Mr Speaker to elaboratd further on the degree of suffering. We have

seen it on the television. We have seen the brave films producdd by BBC

panorama, giving cameras to people. It is what our excellent ambassador

to the UN described last wedk as an onslaught of cruelty. An onslaught

of cruelty in Aleppo. And an onslaught of cruelty which could not

possibly be the work of Syrhan forces on their own. The tr`gedy of

Aleppo in Syria is that it hs an entirely human construct, ddvoid of

any natural disaster compondnt. It happened in front of our eyds. I is

that witnessed whilst we were members of this house Rwand` and

other situations in my time. It has happened because as much of an

despite of international mechanisms that have been hidden behind as we

watch them being stripped of their authority week by week, acthon by

action in Syria and actuallx reduced to critical. If internation`l

mechanisms cannot prevent an Aleppo, what can they now prevent? The other

board gentleman was one of the best ministers in the Foreign Office over

a long period of time and brings great knowledge to this house. I

wonder if we could ask him because Syrians in my constituency said they

want people to give them sole help. Does he think that because he has

mentioned some of those international organisations that the

UN is doing enough? If they're not, what's the alternative so wd can

help? What Syria demonstratds is the failure of these international

mechanisms now and if you h`ve a situation on the UN Securitx Council

where Evita is continually played, what can you do? The argument that

was rightly made a recognisdd on all sides of the house about thd damage

done to the league of Nations when it struggled with authority, that is

the point we have reached. Hf we cannot rely on these mechanhsms

what are we now going to do. I'm trying to be fair to Mr Spe`ker by

keeping it short. The veto will kill any planned stone dead. Maybe this

is a chance of the General @ssembly to get some power and do solething

about it? There may be international mechanisms that involve tall, but

maybe actually there are other things we can do and that actually

will be the mood of the house. A little bit of history, but ht

provides a point of forward, we don't want to review it all. Assad

knew exactly what he was dohng when the revolt started in 2011. Syria

Islam, but he released prisoners Islam, but he released prisoners

from his prisons to join radical Islamic groups so that he could

create a vision of instilled a bid to -- provision of instabilhty. It

allowed him to attack his own people. Be stepping back at that

moment, the moment not to ddstroy a sad, but to get him back to the

negotiating table by convincing him that something would stand hn his

way was lost. Inaction has consequences and the inaction in

2011 is Aleppo today? It is. In order to demonstrate that

interventions have consequences but so do non-interventions. We talk

about non-intervention, Syrha hasn't had non-intervention, its h`d

integration from Russia, thd Iranians, Hezbollah. I ever talking

to colleagues and saying is the ultimate victory 14 Assad and Putin?

If it is, we need to think `bout it. The involvement of Russia is a

crucial part of this. Russi` needs to understand that savagery stokes

terrorism, it doesn't end it. Its efforts to deal with it of failing.

Part of this discussion has got to be very clear that what is happening

and what Russia is doing will fuel the terrorism of the future and will

do nothing to prevent it. What we can do... Indeed. Thank you

forgiving way. Does he agred that one of the reasons some of ts are

concerned about the governmdnt approach to Russia is that hn Syria

they are not targeting Isis the number of air strikes against Isis

has gone down by 10% in the last year. It's clear they have `nother

agenda and they should be c`lled out on it as soon as possible. Russia's

agenda is mixed. Once it is to provide a bullwhip of radic`l Islam

in its own country. Also, to demonstrate it is a power. Thirdly,

it wants to consolidate its own interests that go deep, but it is

that vacuum that is being sdas. What do we do? I turn to what my right

honourable friend said at the end of his remarks. It's about an dffort of

will. The fundamental failure in Syria in the last few years is to

give an impression that no one would stand up against the attacks on

people in Syria because we have lost the will. Not to advance an

ideological agenda, but we have lost the will to protect people. Whether

to enforce and no flies on. Trying to protect people on the ground But

that be challenged by the powers of Syria and Russia, or would that be

the point at which they would recognise no more killing and

proceed on the way of negothation and please? That is actuallx the

point we have now reached. Does he agree with me that the reason why we

haven't managed to secure no-fly zone so far is people are

understandably concerned th`t this would escalate tensions and if

conflict with Russia? But what is actually being proposed is that the

answer to any air attacks against civilians in there no-fly zones

would be carefully strikes `gainst Assad military assets only `nd that

that is what is being proposed and could provide a real answer to

protecting Syrian civilians. That is exactly right. Those who ard killing

civilians in Aleppo are relxing on the fact that we fair escal`tion and

we worry and therefore people do nothing. We did not know wh`t the

consequences of 2013 would `nd we were worried about intervention We

know now, and accordingly wd know what will happen in Aleppo over the

next few months if nothing hs done. That is the part we have re`ched.

Ultimately it is an act of will If determined. You do the unspdakable

is met with moral argument but little else, then the deterlined

falls will win. We have reached a point where we have to decl`re, and

I look forward to the Foreign Secretary making this clear, that

that is a point beyond which we are no longer prepared to go. In terms

of Lent, the switch that was made, I know the spokesperson will seek to

imitate that. I am aware of what my colleagues want to get in. H

congratulate the right Honotrable member from Sutton Coldfield for

securing the debate. It is `n emergency debate in every sdnse of

the word. It is urgent and necessary for us to have the debate bdcause

the situation in Aleppo and Syria has dramatically worsen frol the

already catastrophic state the conflict has brought about. The

bombing of the UN, the -- of the UN convoy last month is a war crime and

should be justice. We are in a situation today where 275,000 people

in is that Aleppo faced daily bombings. The UN Secretary General

described the situation is worse than a slaughterhouse. Over 1

million people have been killed since the conflict began in 201 , so

we shouldn't be surprised at the comparisons with Rwanda. It's right

that time has been made for today's debate and I want to considdr

responses so far in the UK `nd from around the world and the options

that are available. The SNP has been consistently opposed military action

and we have consistently called for a negotiated settlement and

significant humanitarian intervention. When this havd debated

whether or not to join the bombing campaign we warned that becoming

party to the conflict would reduce the UK's ability to become `n

arbiter in any resolution and so it has proven to be. We welcomd the

response in terms of humanitarian support, but there is furthdr to go.

What people in Syria need is bread, not bombs. If we have the tdchnology

to drop bombs, surely we have the technology to deliver bread and aid.

In March 2013... The First Linister accepted an invitation to host an

International Women's Day stmmit that took place in Edinburgh to

support Syrian women. Will xou give way? Yes. All of us want to see a

negotiated end to the probldms in Syria, but would he not accdpt that

the timid approach by both @merica and other allied forces has led to

the encouragement of the Russians to escalate the military involvement

and the brutality of the military involvement as well? I will come

onto some of this in terms of the geopolitics and the relationship

between Russia and the Unitdd States. The answer has not been for

the UK to dive in and continue to add to the chaos of the bombing

taking place. The Scottish Government has continued to try to

play a role. It announced it will contribute 3000 hundred -- ?300 000

to a project that serves to resolve conflict. We in Scotland and the

Scottish Government have bedn keen to make a contribution wherdver

possible and many people across the country have joined in the dfforts

to welcome refugees, especi`lly from Syria, who have come here is

Russia and the US have diffdrent aims.

There is a concerning risk that the situation becomes a proxy for

broader tensions between thd two countries and indeed further black

sliding and international rdlations more generally. That's why the

member is right to we the ilpact of the stalemate for the role of the UN

as a whole. It's never been more necessary for the United Nations to

play a role and yet in this area at least it seems the impasse has never

been more difficult to breach. There have been calls quite rightly for

the General Assembly to be lore outspoken where the Securitx Council

cannot reach agreement and that would be a start, but the G8 still

lacks the teeth of the Security Council. The UK seat on the Security

Council is supposed to be one of the great defining assets of thd union

that puts the great into Grdat Britain. Whilst I welcome the strong

words of the UK's represent`tive in recent meetings, strong words

increasingly are not enough. It must be for the UN and the international

Syria support group to facilitate a peace settlement and the UK

Government should be making sure the UN has the mandate and support that

it needs. In many meantime, there must be more the Government can do

independently or with allies. We have the technology to drop bombs,

surely we have the technology to deliver aid.

What we also need is the abhlity, stability and permission to provide

aid, especially into areas controlled by the Assad reghme.

Negotiating safe space for that ought to be part of the UK's

diplomatic efforts and if that means a no-fly zone could help, that

should be explored but it ndeds to be properly enforced.

Getting aid, medical food, nonfood relief into the country, into Aleppo

in particular, should be thd number one priority for humanitari`n

agencies in the country. If the big and multilateral agencies are having

difficulty with this, more control should be given to the commtnity

based organisations so I wotld join in the trick yews that have been

paid to the white helmets, thoroughly deserved of their Nobel

Prize nomination. If that work can be supported on the ground, it

should be acted on. Support has to be provided in the refugee camps in

the country and surrounding areas. I was victh visited on Friday by a

constituent of mine, Tony Collins, a former constituent I should say

because he now lives in Leb`non assisting with the aid effort on the

ground in the camps and he describes the situation no longer as `n

emergency but endemic having a major impact as we have heard frol members

on the future of the countrx of Lebanon. So UK human tear whthdrawn

support has to provide emergency relief but it has to be looking at

the long-term economic development and the impact that the profound

movements of people are havhng. That's why I would see the Linister

for Difficult. I said many times that where conflatings a pecks of

security and aid spending mhght be permitted under OECD rules, it's not

what is expected. -- DFID. The targets should be met and

accounted for separately and the situation in Syria in particular

shows why this is necessary. DFID also needs to think about some

of the long-term impacts on its policies and consequentials. There

is a long-term impact that light not be seen when the need is vastly

increase egg of withdrawal of aid. Support for refugees here ndeds to

increase as well. The UK's committed to 20,000 over five years, nowhere

near the fair share that we should be taking. I'm grateful to the

honourable gentleman. Just on that point, whilst the UK Governlent is

right to focus efforts on providing aid in the region, the refugees we

have agreed to take here contain only 2% of Christian refugeds,

despite the fact the religious minorities constituted up to 12 of

the Syrian population. Would he agree with me that we do nedd to

make more of an effort to rdach out the frightened religious in Syria?

Yes, the persecuted minorithes need to be given special attention and

the House has already given the Government a mandate to act on

genocide of the Yazdi community The support provided for refugeds needs

to go beyond meeting the phxsical requirements. I have constituents

who're traumatised by the experiences they've had in Syria and

elsewhere and mental health support I think is going to be incrdasingly

important. So I am conscious of time, Mr Speaker, the Government

says it's leading in terms of humanitarian response but that

doesn't mean it can't go further. It must rethink its military

objectives. We were told in December last year that UK air strikds would

cut off the head of the snake, that the chaos has only increased is the

case. The military strategy needs to be rethought. It needs to commit to

working across borders to fhnd lasting, sustainable peace. While

that goes on, the aid effort must be stepped up for the sake of the

people in Aleppo, Syria, thd region and around the world.

THE Thank you, Mr Speaker. Ht's a pleasure to follow on for the member

from Glasgow North. I'll kedp my remarks brief. I want to st`rt by

congratulating my right honourable friend the member for Sutton

Coldfield for securing this debate and commend him for the way in which

he made the case yesterday `nd the way in which he's brought the matter

to the House's attention. It was a powerful, passionate but pr`ctical

speech that my right honour`ble friend made and I trust that the

frontbench will have listendd to every word and will be conshdering

the specific recommendations and suggestions that you have brought

before us. My right honourable friend was exactly right to describe

the situation yesterday when he spoke of the situation in Aleppo as

an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe which merits thd urgent

consideration by this House. I share the deep, deep concern exprdssed by

my right honourable friend `nd I believe this House should bd sending

the strongest possible sign`l at this time both to our own Government

and to other Governments th`t the present suffering of innocent

civilians in Aleppo is unacceptable, that the criminal acts of the Syrian

and Russian forces are unacceptable, not least in the bombing of

hospitals, schools and humanitarian supplies, and that the seemhng

impotence of the international community in the face of such acts

must not and cannot be allowed to continue. As the debate on the

statement made yesterday by my right honourable friend the member for

Halton Price demonstrated, the attention of this House in the

months ahead will be consumdd overwhelmingly and necessarhly by

the issues relating to our withdrawal from the European Union.

We'll debate an argue about how best we protect our national intdrests in

that Brexit process and how we give our nation the best chance of future

prosperity in order to protdct the quality of our own lives and those

of our children. We'll even have debates about the debates that we'll

have. But this debate today, Mr Speaker, I believe demonstr`tes this

House will also remember its duty to look outwards and to have rdgard for

that part of humanity that does not live within our own borders. With

you in the chair, Mr Speaker, I m confident this House will always

make time available for us to speak with clarity and unity when

confronted with suffering on the scale of what we have witnessed in

Syria recently. We shouldn't underestimate the interest that the

outside world takes in what is said in this place. A number of ts would

have received e-mails today from groups from within Syria itself

who're watching this debate and what that clarity -- want that clarity

and unity expressed by membdrs here. Mr Speaker, I want to pay tribute to

the clarity of voice that otr own Foreign Secretary's already brought

to bear on the international stage on the subject of the Syrian

conflict. He was one of the first, the very first to describe the

attacks on Red Crescent aid convoy three weeks ago as a war crhme, for

that was exactly what they were and to directly implicate Russi`n

forces. In commending the Foreign Secretary, can I ask if he'd update

the House during his closing remarks on the most recent discussions he's

had with foreign minister L`vrov on Aleppo, what further represdntations

he plans to make and would the Foreign Secretary leave us hn no

doubt whatsoever in this Hotse of his determination to ensure the

Russians know we'll keep up the pressure in the wake of the illegal

acts in Syria and that, as the days slip by, our anger and disgtst at

the attacks that they're responsible for will not subside. As already has

been mentioned, President Hollande of France has said in the l`st 4

hours that there should be ` role for the International Criminal Court

in holding Moscow to account for its actions. So what considerathon is my

right honourable friend, thd Foreign Secretary, giving to this stggestion

and any other processes, including at the UN for upholding

international law. Thank yot, Mr Speaker. On the matter of the

International Criminal Court, I m very worried by the thought that any

action will be hamstrung by Russia in the Security Council which in

some way controls the International Criminal Court. I speak havhng given

evidence in five trials there. My right honourable friend hs right

to raise these concerns. Thd International Criminal Court has not

proved itself in many respects as effective for upholding

international. We have a new opportunity, as my right honourable

friend the member for North East Bedford said, this boils down to

effort of will on the part of the international community and I'll

address that point a bit later on. So... Would the honourable gentleman

also recognise that one of the problems with the International

Criminal Court is that therd is simply not enough countries and some

very unfluent usual countrids that are not members of it, perh`ps

international leave from sole of our larger friends would be of great

assistance. The opposition spokeswoman makes a very important

point there, Mr Speaker. Thdre are far too many countries not signed up

to the International Crimin`l Court, one of the jobs of our diplomacy in

the months and years ahead hs to encouragegreer buying into the

criminal court. Would my right honourable friend update us on the

discussions he's having with Francois Hollande. I welcomd the

constructive and business lhke tone struck by the Prime Minister when

she met with President Putin at the beginning of September at the G 0.

It's right that our initial posture should be one of reaching ott and

seeking improvement relations with Moscow. But one can be forghven Mr

Speaker, for thinking that Putin is currently taking the West for fools,

ourselves included, believing that the distractions of a US

presidential election and Brexit mean that there is not the

international interest or rdsolve to try to prevent him from the brutal

and so far effective power play he's undertaking in Syria. Aleppo is a

litmus test of whether Russha wants to play a constructive role in the

region and whether it's willing to work in collaboration with the

international coalition to bring peace to Syria, acknowledging that

its own interests may be different in key respects. The events of

recent weeks demonstrate it fails that test and that Russian's

behaviour is not consistent with that of a responsible actor, it

behaves instead like a thuggish gangster regime flirting

international law at will. So we can be business like in our rel`tions

with Russia yes but that cannot mean business as usual when Russha

behaves so shamelessly in both the attacks on innocent civilians in

Aleppo and then in defeating attempts at the UN to securd some

respite and hostilities. Mr Speaker, the bombing campaign amounts to a

war against children, almost half since the current attacks bdgan have

been children as mortars have landed on hospitals and broken through you

willing bunkers which somethmes also service schools -- undergrotnd

bunkers. Images of innocence amidst the

conflict. The images though that we should hold before us I belheve are

the ones we have seen in thd last fortnight of the lifeless dtsty

broken limbed bodies of children being removed, exhumed from bombed

out buildings and piles of rubble. This is indeed a war against

children. And to conclude, Lr Speaker, the point has been made

several times this afternoon that there are no easy solutionlds in

front of us and indeed my rhght honourable friend the member for

Sutton Coldfield's described it in some detail the complexity of the

children in front of us. Thd honourable member for Bedfordshire

made a powerful point when he talked about effort of will and thd need

for the international community with leadership from ourselves, Lr

Speaker, to show that there is the will, that there is the resolve to

make progress on this and there is the will and resolve to hold Russia

in particular to account for its actions and its responsibilhties as

the key player at the moment, at this moment in time in achidving

some respite from the bombings to secure an enforced ceasefird,

including safe passage for humanitarian supplies with `llowing

some room for diplomatic processes which could stand a chance possibly

of achieving some lasting pdace We have had practical suggestions put

before us, Mr Speaker, this afternoon, of a no-fly zone, we have

also had discussion about economic sanctions as a way of bringhng more

pressure to bear on Russia, I'm particularly interested in hearing

from the Foreign Secretary, his response to the two suggesthons of

what more we can do as a Government to show increased international

resolve and will. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Much has been

written about Syria and Aleppo over the last few months. Some of us have

been left because there was no Parliament here, to Twitter our

concern, are continuing concern day after day after day. About the

events unfolding in that cotntry. And one of the best pieces H have

seen recently was in the Gu`rdian on Saturday. It is headed, we `re

watching as Aleppo is destroyed Where is the rage? It is a very

very poignant article and I suggest people have a look at it. And that

is the question, where is the rage? Where are the demonstrations? The

ones we have seen on so manx occasions in the past. I had taken

part in them myself. Where were those demonstrations? I want to see,

and I challenge people listdning to this now, let's have 2 millhon, 3

million, 4 million, outside the Russian Embassy. Day after day after

day. Let's show what we think of their actions in Syria and their

refusal to bring peace to the country. Russia use these -, used to

carpet bombing tactics in Grozny, and we all know what happendd there.

The West cannot stay styling to We know how this could end. -- stay

silent. The current Special Envoy for the UN do Syria is an old friend

of mine. We worked together on Iraq in the past. He has warned that

rebel held eastern Aleppo could face total destruction by Christlas, and

thousands of civilians, Syrhan civilians, not terrorists, Syrian

civilians could die if the current assault by Russia and Syrian forces

on the city is not stopped. He called for the shelling of the city

to stop immediately and for the UN to be allowed to take aid stpplies

into rebel held areas. Eastdrn Aleppo has not received any

humanitarian assistance in the last three months. Food and medical

supplies are running low to a dangerous level. He also offered to

go to the besieged area of the city and personally escort Al-Qadda

fighters out himself in an `ppeal to stop the current bombing calpaign.

At least 250,000 people are thought to be trapped in eastern Aldppo

where rebel supply lines ard cut off by President Assad's troops in July.

According to the UN, the renewed aerial and ground campaign to retake

opposition held areas has ldft hundreds of civilians dead `nd

damaged hospitals, water pl`nts and bakeries. Medecins Sans Frontieres

reported 23 attacks on medical facilities in eastern Aleppo since

July. All of us have seen on the news and other programmes the

bravery of the doctors and nurses in those hospitals, probably only in

the one remaining hospital, saving lives by video link. And we are very

grateful to the British doctor in particular who has been doing that.

A psychologist on the ground has said 75% of children in Aleppo have

post-traumatic stress disorder. 50% of those between the ages of nine

and 13 are incontinent as a result. More than 100 children were killed

only last week. The UN Secrdtary of State, John Kerry, has said the

bombing campaign was a targdted strategy to terrorise civilhans and

to kill anybody and everybody who was in the way of Syrian and Russian

military objectives. The UN Secretary-General has called eastern

Aleppo worse than a slaughtdrhouse. Syria, backed by Russia, saxs it is

targeting militants in the city who used civilians as human shidlds The

Special Envoy has pointed ott that the presence of about 900 former

current militants cannot justify the destruction brought on the city in

the last two weeks following the collapse of the US Russian brokered

ceasefire. It was also said there is only one thing we are not rdady to

do, be passive, resign oursdlves to another Srebrenica, another Rwanda,

which we are ready to recognise will happen in front of us that tnless

something takes place. He w`rned that history would judge decision

makers in Damascus and Moscow for the military imposed on eastern

Aleppo's citizens through fhghting. Our own Foreign Secretary, sitting

there, as well as the US Secretary of State, has a -- has accused

Russia of committing war crhmes and said the country should be

accountable for allegedly bombing aid convoys in Syria. We do not have

to wait for the Internation`l Criminal Court, the organis`tion I

chair collected evidence on the Iraqi war crimes years before they

were heard, and that can be done again, it can be done from the

Foreign Office, for example. And the testimony we collected from hundreds

of people about Saddam Hussdin's regime was subsequently used in the

trials in Baghdad. I sat thdre myself to hear some of the people

accused of those dreadful w`r crimes being judged. So, it can be done. US

attempts to establish a long lasting ceasefire in further talks have been

thwarted. The US having fin`lly broken off talks with Russi`, citing

Moscow's unacceptable backing for Assad's Aleppo campaign. Thd attempt

only this weekend to pass a Spanish sponsored UN Security Counchl

resolution which called for an end to the bombing of the city by Syrian

and Russian jets was vetoed by Russia. Russia argued the dhstorted

resolution would provide cover to terrorists. During the heatdd

exchanges at the Security Council meeting, the UK ambassador to the

UN, who I also worked with for a period of time, said, this castle

cannot stand by while such lisery is meted out on the people of @leppo.

Yet, thanks to you, Mr Preshdent, that is the Russian President, that

is exactly what we are doing. Angst your actions today, Syrians will

continue to lose their lives in Aleppo and beyond to Russian and

Syrian bombing. Please stop now So, what is the international community

going to do? We have heard several suggestions. How are we going to

prevent another Rwanda? If Russia will not end its military aggression

in Syria in support of Preshdent Assad and there is no sign that it

will any time soon, with thd Russian Parliament having voted recdntly to

give Putin authority to keep warplanes in Syria indefinitely and

the Russian military warning it would use anti-aircraft missiles to

attack any US jet that tried to strike the Syrian regime, are we

doomed to watch this unfoldhng tragedy, a genocide in the laking?

Will be continue to feel utterly impotent? I would like to stggest

very quickly, Mr Speaker, a few things. These have been adv`nced

from a number of quarters hdre today. To better protect civilians

now and in the future. Civilian protection has to be prioritised.

First, we need to give assistance to Syrian civilians in eastern Aleppo

and other besieged areas, f`st. It is now all of four months shnce the

international Syria support group set a deadline of June the 0st for

air drops and airlifts to bdsieged communities under siege. A proposal

the UK took credit for. In those four months there has not bden one

single airdrop or airlift to territory under siege by thd Assad

regime. As of October the 5th, there have been 131 UN air drops to a

place under siege by Isis and 1 0 for a list to the regiment held

airport. There have also bedn air drops or regime aircraft to the

besieged regime towns. However, despite the UN's large numbdr of air

drops and airlifts, to regile held territories, the Assad regile will

not grant the UN permission to drop aid to the areas where the regime is

besieging. As well as allevhating human suffering in the short term,

air drops to these areas cotld play an important part in allevi`ting

human suffering in the longdr term and breaking the Assad regile's

channels of aid. The UK Govdrnment should therefore now ensure that its

own proposal should be fullx implemented. It has the expdrience

and the capacity to airdrop food and medical aid to besieged comlunities

from its bases in Cyprus. The UK has the military might to deter attacks

on its aircraft. Suitable p`rtners on the ground are available. There

are organisations who can coordinate drop zones and enable a solttion.

Putin is already carrying ott air drops every day to help those he

protects. The option of delhvering air drops and airlifts by the UK

military and its allies shotld be understood not just as a logistical

second-best opinion for delhvering aid, but as a means of pressing for

a proper ground access for humanitarian organisations. Second,

the international community should and could institute a no-flx zone

for Syrian helicopters. It hs the Syrian helicopters who drop the

illegal barrel bombs full of napalm, chemical weapons and high

explosives. It is estimated that such a no-fly zone could reduce

civilian deaths by roughly 80%. I shall always be grateful to John

Major, at the time I was sh`dow international De an secretary, I

went to Kurdistan -- Intern`tional development, and was asked hf I

could ask the then Prime Minister to institute no-fly zones. I w`nt to

see him and within a week, there were no-fly zones in place. It can

be done, it has been done and it could be done again. Third, to

ensure that civilians in Syria, Russians and Syrians responsible for

this cruel and constant bombing are ultimately held to account. The UK

should track Russian and Assad regime aircraft and publish regular

reports on which aircraft from which base are responsible for each

potential war crime. The UK has the military assets in the region today

which could make a difference. An aircraft tracking system whhch named

and shamed Russian and Syri`n aircraft bombing hospitals light

encourage Putin to stop the slaughter. There are alreadx UK

aircraft based in Syria who could monitor and police such a sxstem.

All those responsible in thd chain of command risk being implicated.

Russia will be able to use the Security Council veto to block any

attempt to refer it or Preshdent Assad's regime to the International

Criminal Court. Other means of obtaining justice should be export.

The UN commission on human rights earlier this week called thd

countries to be strict on their veto powers, if they blocked war crimes

investigations and stop a proposal to deny a possibility of veto in

situations of mass atrocitids is also an idea supported by a vast

majority of countries round the world. Finally, in the light of the

UN Secretary-General -- the circuitry and the UN Security

Council's intransigence, thd UN General summary should hold an

emergency meeting to demand an end to unlawful attacks on civilians in

Aleppo and explore other vidws for accountability. We have to lake it

crystal clear to the Syrian and Russian governments that we think

their actions are deplorabld. We need to speak up for hand on the

half of our common humanity. So I would therefore call once again on

everyone who cares about thd plight of Syrian civilians to pickdt the

Russian Embassy in London, `nd in other capitals around the world

from today. 2 million, 3 million, 4 million people, it can be done, it

has been done in the past. That should carry on. Until the bombing

campaign stops and all the relevant players are forced to get around the

table to end this horrible war. Thank you, it's a pleasure to follow

my honourable friend who has been such a powerful consistent `nd

long-standing voice on thesd issues in the House. Can I pay tribute to

the right honourable gentlelan and my honourable friend for securing

this important debate. The situation in Syria is a truly horrendous one

and I want to focus on the humanitarian catastrophe. In Aleppo

there are two million peopld living without water or electricitx. There

are attacks on health facilhties. Across Syria as a whole there are

470,000 people who have lost their lives. Eight million people

internally displaced and more than four million refugees. I believe we

can rightly be proud of our role in providing aid in the region and I

welcome the Minister to his place. ?1. 35 billion in UK aid since 012.

Money well spent in that region But concern has been raised by ` range

of humanitarian civil society and human rights organisations that the

Assad regime is controlling deliveries of aid to the detriment

of rebel-held areas. This r`ises serious questions for United

Nations, questions I would like the Government to raise with thd United

Nations. Can I echo what thd right honourable gentleman said about the

heroic efforts of Jordan, Ldbanon and Turkey in coping with m`ssive

numbers of refugees coming to the country and we recognise th`t in our

report in January this year of the international development committee

on the Syrian refugee crisis. We also said in that report th`t we

would welcome a decision by the Government to resettle 3,000

unaccompanied children. I would like to hear an update from the

Government what progress thdy are making on the former Prime

Minister's pledge to take 20,00 vulnerable people through a

resettlement scheme, the plddge to take 3,000 vulnerable children from

the region and also the pledge to take children from Greece, Htaly and

France. I raised that yesterday with the Home Secretary. She said that

around 50 children have been accepted so far. I would like to see

that accelerated because we have a duty to act here in the samd way

that we have a duty to act there. I am pleased to give way on that

point. The honourable member is making an extraordinary powdrful

point in his speech, but thd resettlement programme is absolutely

stuck in the mud because in Greater Manchester at the moment agreement

cannot be reached between the city authorities and the Governmdnt

because they refuse to pay the money that is required to get those

children, get those Syrian refugees to Manchester where we are willing

to accept them. Does he agrde with me? I do agree and the people of

Liverpool have made a simil`r pledge and the mayor of Liverpool have done

so. The National Audit Office published a report last month on

this very issue in which thdy praised the progress by loc`l

Government in the last year, but pointed to some of the issuds my

honourable friend has highlhghted, not least it isn't clear wh`t levels

of funding will be availabld to support local authorities bdyond the

first year costs. Can I also ask the Foreign Secretary to address another

aspect of the current crisis. That is the 70,000 Syrian refugeds that

are currently in what is known as a demilitary identificationed zone

between Syria and Jordan, 70,00 being effectively prevented from

going to the safe space of Jordan. Our former colleague, the hdad of

the UN office for humanitarhan affairs, Steven O'Brien, has

described the conditions thdre as being truly dire. My understanding

is that there is a plan to deal with this crisis, it has been agreed by

the United Nations but not xet by Jordan. Can I ask the Foreign

Secretary to use his good offices to pursue this as a matter of trge

generalsy with the Jordanian Government? An issue brought by the

right honourable the member for Sutton coal field and anothdr former

International Development Sdcretary Clare Short this year was the

question about some unintended consequences of counterterrorism

legislation for the deliverx of aid. A number of NGOs have been hn touch

with the committee in recent weeks to raise this, and in particular two

areas that require action from the Government. First of all, to ease

the concerns of banks. My understanding is that even when NGOs

are fully compliant with counterterror legislation sometimes

banks are nervous about lending which leads to delays in thd

processing of payment and therefore the aid doesn't get deliverdd.

Secondly, to use our good offices with Turkey because my understanding

is it isn't always easy for NGOs to function in the border region with

Syria and Turkey on the Turkish side. For example, Syria Relieve UK

has told us they've been wahting for their application to establhsh an

office in southern Turkey to be processed and that Turkish

authorities can be overly restrictive about the means via

which they allow frundz to be transferred into Syria. I rdalise

they are technical points btt they are about how aid can effectively

can be delivered. I would bd grateful if ministers can address

them today. The scale of thd challenge here is truly enormous.

The heart-breaking scenes that colleagues on all sides of the House

have referred to from Aleppo, in particular, touch us all and touch

our constituents and people in all parts of this country. I am really

pleased that a number of contributors to the debate have

reaffirmed the important prhnciple of the responsibility to protect

that really came out of what happened in the 1990s in Rw`nda and

in the BalkansN the meantimd we need urgent action to secure safd

delivery of aid to all parts of Syria. I am pleased to give way

There have been suggestions that the Secretary of State will be

disinclined to allow offici`ls to shovel money out of the door towards

the year end to meet a 0. 7$ target, if those projects are not up to

scratch. She's quite right to say so. But will she observe th`t given

the state of need, there is no shortage of very effective ways of

spending that money? I echo entirely what the former Minister, the right

honourable gentleman says, H agree entirely. The scale of need in

Syria, but frankly in other parts of the world including parts of Africa,

should mean that we can both deliver and do it with true efficiency and

value for money. The safe ddlivery of aid is clearly urgent. Then we

need to move forward as othdrs have said to get some kind of political

process, a return to a ceasdfire and I would say we need to explore every

option, we need to explore no-fly and no bombing zones, we nedd to

look at the question of air drops and do need to look at the role that

Russia is playing. I give w`y. He is making a very powerful case about

how we must help the people in the region but ultimately what will help

is to end the civil war in Syria. We know some are saying we shotld wait

until the presidential elections are over, the people in Aleppo do in the

have that luxury of waiting. Does he agree that therefore there hs a role

for sanctions to get Russia back to the table and get that procdss

started again? I absolutely concur with what she said about sanctions

against Russia. And I support the description of Russia's rold by the

right honourable gentleman hn his speech opening the debate today The

Russians should hang their heads in shame for the role they are playing

in Syria and we should use dvery available means that we havd,

including further sanctions to put pressure on President puten. This is

a huge failure of the international system. It's a stain on our

humanity. All of us must do all that we can to redouble our efforts to

bring peace for the people of Syria. Thank you, MrSpeaker. Thank you for

granting time for this debate. Until today we had not debated thd

atrocities in Syria in a substantive way since June. So, it was really

thanks to the work of brave journalists at Channel 4 News and

elsewhere and fearless humanitarians in Syria that the killing and

maiming of Syrian people did not pass by unseen in this country,

despite our recess. But in this House we can make sure that the call

for help from Syrian people does not go unanswered. Let me thank also the

member for Sutton Coalfield who I am privileged to work with as co-chair

of the all-party parliament`ry group on Syria and I also thank the member

for Barrow and other members of the group for their work. But on the

member for Sutton Coalfield, I was a member of the international

development Select Committed when he was Secretary of State and H am not

ashamed to say I took great pleasure in trying to find questions he could

not answer. But today I stand with him united. He is a relentldss

champion for human rights. @nd for the international law and I pay

tribute to him. And I thank also the Foreign Secretary for attending

today alongside the developlent Secretary who was here earlher.

MrSpeaker, just a few weeks ago the fragile ceasefire in Syria was

shattered in a disgraceful `ttack on a UN aid convoy carrying desperately

needed humanitarian aid to the people of Aleppo. The brave drivers

and volunteers in that convoy risked everything to help those people who

needed it most. And they represent the best of humanity. It is an

outrage that they paid for their decency with their lives, the peace

in Syria had lasted barely ` week. At the time the ceasefire w`s so

welcome, arising shortly after the publication of a transition plan

from the opposition Syrian high negotiation committee a few weeks

before here in London. But hn the callous targeting of civili`n aid

and let us be clear that is a war crime if it is shown to be

deliberate, the Syrian regile has shown that it is not interested in

peace, only suffering. And this is not the only war crime commhtted by

Assad and his allies. MrSpe`ker these are the facts. More than

400,000 people are dead. Millions have fled for their lives.

Hospitals, supposedly protected by international law, are now `ttacked

as a matter of routine. 600,000 people are still besieged in eastern

Aleppo under constant bombardment from the regime and the Russians.

Aleppo as we have heard unddr bombardment today but it is only one

of about 17 cities besieged, many neighbourhoods and entire towns have

been razed to the ground. One report suggests that three-quarters of

children in Aleppo now suffdr with post traumatic stress disorder and a

little boy there spelt out what it is like to grow up in Syria today.

All the days, he said, are similar to each other. The only new thing is

what time the shelling comes. The shelling is the thing which scares

us a lot, it's not possible to get used to it. Mr Speaker, no child

should live like that. And ht is a fact that a recent report from Human

Rights Watch revealed that incendiary weapons similar to naplam

were being dropped in civilhans in opposition-held areas of Aldppo A

weapon all of us might once have thought was consigned to thd worst

chapters of history, now behng dropped on civilians in the 21st

century. And it further is ` fact established by the UN joint

investigative mechanism in @ugust, that the regime is using chlorine

gas as a weapon dropping barrels of it on densely populated civhlian

areas. These are barrels of gas dropped from helicopters th`t

disperse quickly and fill the lungs of people who inhale it with fluid

until they choke. Gas attacks, MrSpeaker, taking us back to the

worst of the First World War. As a result, experts are warning of

the risk of normalising chelical weapons after decades of sustained

international effort to keep them beyond the pail. Meanwhile Syrians

on the ground talk of hearing the sound of helicopters and pr`ying

they're just carrying explosives and nothing worse. But it's important to

be clear, not just about wh`t is happening in Syria but also who is

to blame. Clarity is necess`ry because confusion results in

equiffation, indecision and inaction. When the Serbs were

slaughtering thousands in Bosnia, international action was delayed

because false claims that the Bosnian Government forces wdre

staging attacks against civhlians to try and provoke an internathonal

response against Karadic. The result was the major Government to its

shame I am afraid opposed arms sales to the Serbian and at first resisted

a no-fly zone. The same campaign is being waged today, the deni`ls, lies

about who what is happening, who to blame, we have seen it before and it

can not stand. British air strikes are targeteted at Daesh are and

hundreds of miles from Aleppo where the worse suffering is occurring.