Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bilateral assistance for Morocco following the earthquake in that country.

The Foreign Secretary has spoken to Foreign Minister Bourita and the UK remains in close contact with the Moroccan authorities. With their agreement, the UK has deployed a team of 62 search and rescue specialists and a four-person UKMED medical assessment team. We continue to liaise with Morocco, and with local and international partners, including NGOs, on how best to support Morocco's recovery efforts. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon has spoken to the UN's emergency relief coordinator about coordinating humanitarian support and ensuring a sustained humanitarian response.