To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the amendment to the basic law passed by the Knesset on 14 March disqualifying candidates from running in a parliamentary election if they deny Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the amendment to the basic law passed by the Knesset on 14 March disqualifying candidates from running in a parliamentary election if they deny Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last held discussions with the Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) about SADC’s commitment to ensuring free and fair elections in SADC member states.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last held discussions with the Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) about SADC’s commitment to ensuring free and fair elections in SADC member states.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 24 January (HL4702) and 15 February (HL5178), whether they intend to review their policy towards relations with Marine Le Pen, in the light of the latest opinion polls for the French presidential election.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 24 January (HL4702) and 15 February (HL5178), whether they intend to review their policy towards relations with Marine Le Pen, in the light of the latest opinion polls for the French presidential election.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are providing funding for (1) efforts to promote a comprehensive Palestinian negotiating team, and (2) Palestinian elections at all levels of government.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are providing funding for (1) efforts to promote a comprehensive Palestinian negotiating team, and (2) Palestinian elections at all levels of government.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 24 January (HL4702), what contacts the British Embassy in Paris has had with presidential candidates; and for what reasons.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 24 January (HL4702), what contacts the British Embassy in Paris has had with presidential candidates; and for what reasons.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Guyana about the conduct of elections there, in particular regarding the case for an independent head of their Elections Commission.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Guyana about the conduct of elections there, in particular regarding the case for an independent head of their Elections Commission.

My Lords, we are taking a lead in the constructive discussions for resolving what is an appalling situation across Syria—a situation where, at the last election, the only opposition opponent to Assad felt it necessary at the last moment to encourage everybody in the country to vote for Assad rather than himself as a candidate. Assad has shown that he is incapable of protecting his own people, but I agree with my noble friend that we should not dictate an outcome. What we are saying is that Assad has not proved that he can bring peace to the country. We are leading the way in the Syria Support Group of the United Nations in trying to ensure that there can be a position where the Syrian people decide the next steps. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary said when he appeared before the committee of my noble friend Lord Howell, whom I am delighted to see today:

“I would hope that it would be possible to have a plebiscite or an election, properly supervised by the UN, in which all the 11 million displaced persons, including the 4 million who are now outside Syria, are fully entitled to vote”.

My Lords, we are taking a lead in the constructive discussions for resolving what is an appalling situation across Syria—a situation where, at the last election, the only opposition opponent to Assad felt it necessary at the last moment to encourage everybody in the country to vote for Assad rather than himself as a candidate. Assad has shown that he is incapable of protecting his own people, but I agree with my noble friend that we should not dictate an outcome. What we are saying is that Assad has not proved that he can bring peace to the country. We are leading the way in the Syria Support Group of the United Nations in trying to ensure that there can be a position where the Syrian people decide the next steps. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary said when he appeared before the committee of my noble friend Lord Howell, whom I am delighted to see today:

“I would hope that it would be possible to have a plebiscite or an election, properly supervised by the UN, in which all the 11 million displaced persons, including the 4 million who are now outside Syria, are fully entitled to vote”.

That is absolutely right and we will continue to take forward work with the United Nations and our allies to find a way in which those who have committed appalling crimes can be brought to justice. In particular, we are continuing to invest money in providing a way in which robust evidence that would stand up in the case of prosecutions can be collected and stored—and I pay tribute to the brave people who are collecting that evidence.

That is absolutely right and we will continue to take forward work with the United Nations and our allies to find a way in which those who have committed appalling crimes can be brought to justice. In particular, we are continuing to invest money in providing a way in which robust evidence that would stand up in the case of prosecutions can be collected and stored—and I pay tribute to the brave people who are collecting that evidence.

My Lords, certainly not. We have found in the past that Assad is an unreliable person in the dealings we had with him. It would not be appropriate to show that we trust him in any way, because he is not to be trusted.

My Lords, certainly not. We have found in the past that Assad is an unreliable person in the dealings we had with him. It would not be appropriate to show that we trust him in any way, because he is not to be trusted.

My Lords, I repeat that our position and policy have not changed. What the Foreign Secretary was trying to say, in his inimitable manner, to the Select Committee is that in the real world it is for the Syrians to decide. It is their decision; it is not for us to impose a solution on them. That has been our position throughout. With regard to the shape of any constitution, we would not wish to dictate that. It is for the Syrian people to be given an opportunity to discuss how that may be achieved.

My Lords, I repeat that our position and policy have not changed. What the Foreign Secretary was trying to say, in his inimitable manner, to the Select Committee is that in the real world it is for the Syrians to decide. It is their decision; it is not for us to impose a solution on them. That has been our position throughout. With regard to the shape of any constitution, we would not wish to dictate that. It is for the Syrian people to be given an opportunity to discuss how that may be achieved.

My Lords, I said that President Assad has shown that he cannot be trusted. He has led to the deaths of something like 400,000 of

his own people, has put tens of thousands in detention— I have met some of those who have experienced torture at the hands of people there—and has failed to provide a secure future for his country without the air power of countries such as Iran and Russia. That is somebody whom we do not see as being capable of providing a political solution and providing peace. However, what we are doing, and continue to do, through the UN Geneva process is to provide the opportunity for the Syrians to decide this matter. Whatever our view is, it is for the Syrians to decide.

My Lords, I said that President Assad has shown that he cannot be trusted. He has led to the deaths of something like 400,000 of

his own people, has put tens of thousands in detention— I have met some of those who have experienced torture at the hands of people there—and has failed to provide a secure future for his country without the air power of countries such as Iran and Russia. That is somebody whom we do not see as being capable of providing a political solution and providing peace. However, what we are doing, and continue to do, through the UN Geneva process is to provide the opportunity for the Syrians to decide this matter. Whatever our view is, it is for the Syrians to decide.

My Lords, the noble Lord has interpreted what has been said in a way that is not accurate. Throughout this process we have always stressed that it is for the Syrians to decide this matter. We have also said that Assad cannot be trusted. That has been proven by his past relationship with us. The peace process is one in which the opposition groups need to come together in security to discuss the future. The Syrian Government have, of course, been part of that process. That is the objective of the UN procedure. That is why the Geneva process, which we hope and expect will be reconvened by Staffan de Mistura later this month, provides an opportunity for the future. As I said, it is not for us to dictate. We have said that we do not think Assad can lead the country to a peaceful future. The Syrians need to have a chance to decide that for themselves. That is what we are trying to provide.

My Lords, the noble Lord has interpreted what has been said in a way that is not accurate. Throughout this process we have always stressed that it is for the Syrians to decide this matter. We have also said that Assad cannot be trusted. That has been proven by his past relationship with us. The peace process is one in which the opposition groups need to come together in security to discuss the future. The Syrian Government have, of course, been part of that process. That is the objective of the UN procedure. That is why the Geneva process, which we hope and expect will be reconvened by Staffan de Mistura later this month, provides an opportunity for the future. As I said, it is not for us to dictate. We have said that we do not think Assad can lead the country to a peaceful future. The Syrians need to have a chance to decide that for themselves. That is what we are trying to provide.

My Lords, where I entirely agree with the noble Lord is that nobody wants to see the collapse of the country. Whether it is the collapse of the regime by negotiated means is a different matter. But, as I stressed, the important thing is for the international community to give the Syrian people the opportunity not just to come together as they are doing at the moment, meeting in separate rooms in the same city, but ultimately to meet in the same room and come to a peaceful conclusion.

My Lords, where I entirely agree with the noble Lord is that nobody wants to see the collapse of the country. Whether it is the collapse of the regime by negotiated means is a different matter. But, as I stressed, the important thing is for the international community to give the Syrian people the opportunity not just to come together as they are doing at the moment, meeting in separate rooms in the same city, but ultimately to meet in the same room and come to a peaceful conclusion.

My Lords, our long-standing position is that there can be no sustainable peace in Syria while Assad remains in power. He is incapable of uniting the country because of his military campaign against political opposition. Syria needs a transition to a new, inclusive, non-sectarian Government to achieve the credible political settlement that will bring long-term stability. This is set out in the Geneva communiqué and endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

My Lords, our long-standing position is that there can be no sustainable peace in Syria while Assad remains in power. He is incapable of uniting the country because of his military campaign against political opposition. Syria needs a transition to a new, inclusive, non-sectarian Government to achieve the credible political settlement that will bring long-term stability. This is set out in the Geneva communiqué and endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by the Foreign Secretary before the Select Committee on International Relations on 26 January, whether it is their policy that President Bashar al-Assad should be allowed to run for re-election in the event of a peace settlement in Syria.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by the Foreign Secretary before the Select Committee on International Relations on 26 January, whether it is their policy that President Bashar al-Assad should be allowed to run for re-election in the event of a peace settlement in Syria.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the validity of the results of the 2016 elections in The Gambia.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the validity of the results of the 2016 elections in The Gambia.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contacts the British Embassy in Paris has had with Marine Le Pen; whether they are comparable with contacts they have had with the other Presidential candidates; and if not, why not.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contacts the British Embassy in Paris has had with Marine Le Pen; whether they are comparable with contacts they have had with the other Presidential candidates; and if not, why not.

Lords motion to take note of challenges to the liberal international order posed by the development of populism and nationalism around the world. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of challenges to the liberal international order posed by the development of populism and nationalism around the world. Agreed to on question.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Palestinian Authority concerning the case for municipal elections to be held in the West Bank and Gaza.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Palestinian Authority concerning the case for municipal elections to be held in the West Bank and Gaza.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the outcome of the United States presidential election, what assessment they have made of future diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the United States.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the outcome of the United States presidential election, what assessment they have made of future diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the United States.