To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the level of overseas aid to the Republic of Yemen will be affected by events in the Gulf.

With the withdrawal of aid personnel from certain parts of the middle east to ensure their safety, our aid programme to the Republic of Yemen is on hold, although certain activities are continuing in the United Kingdom. We hope to resume our bilateral programme in the Republic of Yemen as and when circumstances allow, although it is not possible to say at this stage at what level that might be.