Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the proposed International Monetary Fund loan package for Tunisia.

We have been clear about the importance of socio-economic stability in order to provide for the Tunisian people. The UK is closely following the proposed loan programme of the International Monetary Fund and was disappointed to learn that the IMF board meeting to discuss the loan program for Tunisia was postponed. We encourage the resumption of talks and urge the Tunisian government to take forward the difficult but necessary reforms to stabilise the economic situation and bring socio-economic stability to Tunisia. We stand ready to support the swift implementation of the steps necessary to strengthen Tunisia's economic and financial situation.