HC Deb 16 January 1995 vol 252 cc453-4
33. Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid Britain has given to the PLO in 1994; and how much will be given in 1995.

Mr. Baldry

Our aid to the Palestinians is not given to the Palestine Liberation Organisation. In 1994 we spent approximately £12 million bilaterally and through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

Mr. Janner

I thank the Minister for that reply and for his recognition that it is vital that we give aid to the Palestinians by one route or another if the middle east peace process is to continue. On that strain, does he recognise that some 75 per cent. of the population of Jordan are Palestinians? In view of their courageous and skilful entry into the peace process, will he arrange for the write-off of the Jordanian debt to Britain, which in any event will not be repaid to? This is the right time to make that gesture.

Mr. Baldry

In a sense, we have done as the hon. and learned Gentleman asks. Following the Washington declaration by Israel and Jordan, all aid debts owed by Jordan to Britain have been written off. The agreement to bring that into effect was signed on 11 December last year. I hope that that is good news for the hon. and learned Gentleman. We recognise that Jordan, having concluded its own bilateral peace treaty with Israel, has made a significant contribution to the peace process in the middle east. That is why all aid debts owed by Jordan to Britain have been written off.