INCREASE IN DEVELOPMENT AID TO YEMEN

Early day motion 1435, tabled 20 January 2006 by Keith Vaz (Labour). Signed by 34 members.

That this House notes with concern that Yemen is the only Middle Eastern country to be classified as a low income nation, ranking 148 out of 174 on the Human Development Index and 76 out of 85 on the Human Poverty Index; recognises the challenges the Yemeni government faces in overcoming high levels of illiteracy, poor local infrastructure and chronic water shortage; further notes that Yemen receives a low level of development aid from the Government and European Union; applauds the progress of the Yemeni government in its economic reforms, progress with human rights and development of civic institutions; and urges the Government to increase development aid commitments to Yemen.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Liberal Democrat 3, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Respect 1, UUP 1.