{"primaryDescription":"<h2><strong>Syrian&nbsp;Minister of Social and Labour Affairs&nbsp;to give evidence to Foreign Affairs&nbsp;Committee</strong></h2>\r\n<p>The Foreign Affairs Committee will hold the first evidence session of its new inquiry into Syria on Monday.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>The session will examine the UK's approach to engaging with Syria's&nbsp;transitional&nbsp;government&nbsp;following the fall of the Assad regime and the establishment of the&nbsp;new&nbsp;government. Members will consider the political, economic, security and humanitarian situation in the country, and assess the challenges and opportunities facing Syria as it&nbsp;seeks&nbsp;to rebuild.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>Witnesses will include H.E. Hind&nbsp;Kabawat, Minister of Social and Labour Affairs in the Syrian Government and the only woman appointed to President Ahmed al-Sharaa's cabinet. The Committee will also hear from experts from Chatham House and the Syria Britain Business Council.&nbsp;</p>","secondaryDescription":"<p>Members are likely to explore a range of issues relating to Syria's transition, including governance, economic recovery, security, humanitarian&nbsp;conditions&nbsp;and the return of displaced people. They are also expected to discuss the country's relationships with regional and international partners, and what these developments mean for UK foreign policy.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>The session will provide Members with an opportunity to examine developments in Syria since the change in government and consider how the UK can best support stability,&nbsp;prosperity&nbsp;and inclusive governance in the country.&nbsp;</p>","parliamentTvUrl":"https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/e104292a-fe15-4b4b-8bd2-3ebfe261d6f4","id":28094,"name":null,"startDate":"2026-09-07T13:00:00","endDate":"2026-09-07T16:00:00","cancelledDate":null,"locationId":3,"location":"The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House","eventType":{"id":6,"name":"Formal meeting (oral evidence session)","isVisit":false,"description":"Formal meetings may be held in private (for example to consider a draft report) or in public (for example to hear oral evidence), and require a minimum number of members to be present."},"eventSource":"CIS","committees":[{"contact":{"email":"fac@parliament.uk","phone":null,"address":"Foreign Affairs Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA","contactDisclaimer":"We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone.\r\nPlease be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints."},"id":78,"name":"Foreign Affairs Committee","parentCommittee":null,"subCommittees":[],"house":"Commons","leadHouse":null,"category":{"id":1,"name":"Select"},"committeeTypes":[{"id":1,"name":"(HC) Public Standing Orders - Departmental","committeeCategory":{"id":1,"name":"Select"}}],"showOnWebsite":true,"websiteLegacyUrl":"https://old.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/foreign-affairs-committee/","websiteLegacyRedirectEnabled":false,"startDate":"1979-05-03T00:00:00","endDate":null,"dateCommonsAppointed":"2024-10-21T00:00:00","dateLordsAppointed":null,"scrutinisingDepartments":[{"departmentId":45,"name":"Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}],"isLeadCommittee":true,"nameHistory":[{"id":77,"committeeId":78,"name":"Foreign Affairs Committee","startDate":"1979-05-03T00:00:00","endDate":null}]}],"committeeBusinesses":[{"id":9952,"title":"A new Syria: assessing UK strategy in a transitional state","type":{"id":1,"name":"Inquiry","isInquiry":true,"description":"Inquiries allow committees to consider oral and written evidence on a particular topic. 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