To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to make representations to the Syrian government in respect of honours they have bestowed on convicted Islamist terrorist Sumar Kuntar; and if he will make a statement. (242525)

I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Substantive answer from Bill Rammell to Stewart Jackson:

We are concerned that Syria has chosen to award its Order of Merit to someone guilty of such acts. We have no plans to make representations directly, but during my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's recent visit to Syria, he discussed with President Asad the strategic choice that Syria faces in acting as a force for stability or instability in the region.