Written question asked by Alan Duncan (Conservative) on Thursday, 15 November 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 November 2001. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Monday, 26 November 2001 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to assist the economies of (a) Israel, (b) Jordan, (c) Syria, (d) the Palestinian Territories and (e) Lebanon. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to assist the economies of (a) Israel, (b) Jordan, (c) Syria, (d) the Palestinian Territories and (e) Lebanon. [16579] Mr. Bradshaw: (a) The Government have no bilateral economic assistance or aid packages for Israel. (b) The current planned level of bilateral assistance to Jordan is £3.5 million per annum. Through the UK's contribution to the EC's MEDA funds, we are also providing approximately £6.5 million per annum in assistance to Jordan. (c) Provisional estimates for Syria's allocation of the EC's MEDA funds for 2000 are £1.5 million. The share attributed to the UK is 19.01 per cent. The UK is also supporting Syria's economic reform programme. (d) UK bilateral assistance to the Palestinians is £14 million in 2001. The Government also contribute to budgetary aid through our share of the EC MEDA programme--equivalent to £15 million this year. (e) Provisional estimates for Lebanon's allocation of the EC's MEDA funds for 2000 are £25.77 million. The share attributed to the UK is 19.01 per cent. Over the past four years the UK has substantially increased its contributions to the work of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which provides services to Palestinians throughout the region. In 2001 the UK contribution is £25 million.

Secondary information