To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the Government's decision to explore contacts with the political wing of Hezbollah on Hezbollah's (a) actions, (b) policies and (c) structure. (278662)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of his Department's performance in encouraging Hezbollah to renounce violence and play a constructive, democratic and peaceful role in Lebanon and the wider region. (278683)

On 9 January 2009 our ambassador in Beirut attended a meeting of British parliamentarians with the Lebanese Foreign Affairs Committee. Representatives of all members of the National Unity Government were present, including one MP from Hezbollah's political wing, Ali Amar. During this meeting the ambassador urged all sides to show restraint during the crisis in Gaza, and the importance of all sides respecting the terms of UN Security Council resolution 1701. In the course of normal diplomatic business, staff at our embassy in Beirut have also met Hezbollah politicians on a number of occasions. However, there have been no official meetings since 9 January.

We continue to believe that occasional and carefully considered contacts with Hezbollah's politicians, including its MPs, will best advance our objective of urging Hezbollah to reject violence and play a constructive, democratic and peaceful role in Lebanese politics, in line with UN Security Council resolutions.