§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has made to the Jordanian Government's request for assistance in this year's drought; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydAfter two winters of drought, Jordan has this winter suffered from an even greater shortage of rain. As the hon. Members knows, the severity of last year's drought was such that Her Majesty's Government decided to give £50,000 for the distribution of food to the Bedouin as an emergency measure.
In response to an urgent request from the Jordanian Government, Her Majesty's Government have decided to make available a quantity of steel water tanks from War Office stocks in Cyprus. These will be used to help solve the growing long-term problem of a shortage of drinking water in Jerusalem, Amman and in many of the refugee camps, and also in particular to bring swift relief this summer. A supplementary estimate for £25,000 will be laid before the House in due course, to meet the cost of transporting these water tanks to Jordan and their replacement in Cyprus; meanwhile an advance is being made from the Civil Contingencies Fund to meet the immediate costs.