Asked by: Lord Udny-Lister (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the UK has a strong relationship with Morocco.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 2 September in response to Question 905377, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below. Since then, we have continued to reaffirm our shared ambition to deepen cooperation, including at the ministerial meeting of the UK-Morocco Association Council on 12 November.
On 1 June, the Foreign Secretary co-hosted the UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue in Rabat, where he signed agreements on education, healthcare, infrastructure and trade. This signalled a step change in the relationship. The Foreign Secretary also endorsed Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara and committed UK support to the parties and UN to reach a mutually acceptable resolution. We are taking this work forward together and remain in frequent contact.