Meg Presses the PM and Foreign Secretary on Kobani

Last week, I asked the Prime Minister what his Government is doing to prevent a brutal massacre in Kobani.

Prime Minister's Questions 15/10/2014

The following day, I sought assurances from the Foreign Secretary that humanitarian support would be provided for those that need it most in Kobani.

It was welcoming to hear this week that Turkey is finally allowing the Kurdish peshmerga forces from northern Iraq to cross its territory in order to defend the Kurds who are in Kobani.

Please see below for a full transcript of the question I asked the Prime Minister and the answer he provided.

Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch): The people of Kobane in northern Syria are desperately fighting off attack from ISIS. The United Nations Secretary-General has asked for immediate action to tackle it and support the beleaguered civilian population. What are the UK Government doing to try to make sure that massacre is prevented in Kobane?

The Prime Minister: Of course, we are taking action in the skies over Iraq, but we fully support the action that America and other states, including Arab states, are taking in the skies over Syria, which has had some effect on the town of which the hon. Lady speaks. I think there is a case for Britain doing more, but I recognise that what we have to focus on right now is the air power over Iraq and the training of an effective Syrian national opposition, because in time the right answer for Syria is the same as the right answer for Iraq: a Government who can represent all of their people and armed services that can fight on behalf of all of their people. Britain should play its role in making sure that happens.

You can view the statement made by the Foreign Secretary here and my remarks by clicking here.