Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received from non-governmental organisations on the issuing of work visas to Syrian refugees in Jordan; and if he will raise this issue with the Jordanian government.

We regularly discuss the situation for Syrian refugees in Jordan, including access to work, with non-governmental organisations and civil society representatives. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields (Justine Greening) raised our concerns about the need for refugees to have access to livelihood opportunities with Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour when she visited Jordan in February.

The UK is committed to supporting Jordan as it hosts over 620,000 refugees from the Syria crisis, placing an enormous burden on local services and communities. We have provided £220 million to ensure Syrian refugees and host communities can continue to receive food, water and shelter while shoring up stretched public services.