PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
FSO Safer (17 September 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) his relevant international counterparts and (b) the United Nations regarding ongoing negotiations to obtain approved authorisation for UN investigators to inspect the physical condition of the FSO Safer oil tanker off the coast of Yemeni port, al-Hudaydah.

Asked by:
Anna McMorrin (Labour)

The FSO SAFER oil tanker remains is an environmental disaster waiting to happen. The Foreign Secretary raised the tanker's dire condition, which poses an environmental, economic and humanitarian threat to Yemen and the region, during the P5+ High Level Ministerial meeting on 17 September that he co-hosted with his Swedish, German and Kuwaiti counterparts. The Group agreed a Joint Communique - https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/joint-communique-on-the-conflict-in-yemen - which called on the Houthis to urgently facilitate unconditional and safe access for UN experts to conduct an assessment and repair mission. The UK is also working with the UN and other donors to ensure there is enough funding in place for that mission to proceed and that comprehensive UN contingency plans are in place should a leak occur.

Answered by:
Sir James Cleverly (Conservative)
22 September 2020