Written question asked by Robert Hicks (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 January 1997. It was answered by Liam Fox (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 January 1997 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: What requests the United Kingdom government has received from (a) the Yemen government, (b) the Aden Port Authority and (c) other organisations (i) to tender for projects and (ii) to assist (1) financially and (2) technically with the Aden Port re-development programme.

Answer: Sir Robert Hicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests the United Kingdom Government have received from (a) the Yemen Government, (b) the Aden Port Authority and (c) other organisations (i) to tender for projects and (ii) to assist (1) financially and (2) technically with the Aden port redevelopment programme; and if he will make a statement. [11684] Dr. Liam Fox: The United Kingdom Government have received no requests to tender for projects. All requests for technical assistance are channelled through the Government of Yemen. In 1995 the Overseas Development Administration provided assistance to the Government of Yemen in evaluating competing proposals for the development of the Aden container terminal. In late 1996, the ODA received a request for assistance in undertaking an impact study including preparation of programme specifications for the future of the port development programme. Consultants began their work on this assignment in early January. The Aden port and free trade zone development project is a large commercial undertaking where the lead is predominantly taken by the private sector company Yeminvest. The World bank is providing limited assistance to the Yemeni authorities on the public sector aspects of the project. ODA grant-funded consultancies form an important part of the planning phase of this project.

Secondary information