§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the Government's policy regarding freedom of trade between Jordan and the West Bank. [R] [90335]
§ Mr. HoonTrade between Jordan and the West Bank and Jordan and Israel is of central importance to increasing stability and prosperity. The Government support the European Community's Association Agreements with Jordan, Israel and the PLO, and the Euromed process which promotes regional economic and commercial integration. The Government are pressing for further examination of ways to increase trade within the region.
§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of military assistance to Jordan. [R] [90333]
§ Mr. HoonOur budget for the current financial year for military assistance to Jordan is £450,000. This will largely be spent on courses and Short Term Training Teams.
§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the effects of the sanctions on Iraq on the Jordanian economy. [R] [90334]
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§ Mr. HoonThe Jordanian authorities regularly raise their concern about the effects that sanctions on Iraq have on the Jordanian economy, while continuing to call for Iraq to comply fully with UN Security Council resolutions.
§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the United Kingdom has taken to assist the Jordanian Government with debt relief. [R] [90332]
§ Mr. HoonWe promised King Abdullah to raise debt relief for Jordan with our G8 partners, and did so ahead of, and at, the recent Summit in Cologne. That Summit concluded by calling on the international community to provide economic assistance (for Jordan), including, where appropriate, debt relief. The UK strongly supported the Paris Club decision to reschedule Jordanian debt.