Without going over all the figures that have been given, the position can be summarised in this way: the total of unemployed is up, there has been the highest monthly increase, there is a worsening trend, there is job destruction, there is a Regional Crisis no longer simply confined to Scotland, the North and Wales but particularly, for example, in the West Midlands.

Before Conservative Members protest that that is all right because we will act in this insane way only when the Soviets have already gone mad and attacked us, they should ponder the problem of war by accident escalating from a Regional Crisis or from technical and human error: from cock-up rather than from a conspiracy.

The provocation of the Israeli people would have been such that they would have demanded the armed intervention of their Government, and then a Serious Regional Crisis - following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait - would have become a regional conflict of dangerous proportions.

As the noble and learned Lord said, it is a Regional Crisis.

To provide forces needed to respond to a Regional Crisis or conflict involving a NATO ally which calls for assistance under Article 5 of the Washington treaty.

There are more than 2 million refugees in neighbouring countries, which is creating a growing Regional Crisis.

Does the Minister agree that the horrendous destruction of flight MH17 was a direct consequence of a Regional Crisis fomented by President Putin?

In promoting a more central EU role in the resolution of the Regional Crisis, HMG should explain more clearly what they are doing to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis and their other actions in the area.