(1 year, 8 months ago)
Lords Chamber The Earl of Minto (Con)
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            The Earl of Minto (Con) 
        
    
        
    
        I thank my noble friend for that question. To be honest, I do not know precisely what they are doing; I will find out and write. They are definitely supportive of Aspides, and that is certainly a move in the right direction.
 The Earl of Sandwich (CB)
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            The Earl of Sandwich (CB) 
        
    
        
    
        My Lords, has the FCDO sufficiently studied the people of north Yemen, who are quite different from those in the south? In the view of some experts, they are irrepressible. What is the reaction of international diplomacy to that?
 The Earl of Minto (Con)
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            The Earl of Minto (Con) 
        
    
        
    
        The noble Lord makes a very good point—one brought out earlier by the involvement of Saudi Arabia. It is very difficult to answer. We must take action to deter the disruption going through the Suez Canal because we believe so passionately in global trade. One would hope that there comes a point when diplomatic efforts and other activity in the region may bring a halt to this very unfortunate situation.