Written statement by (Secretary of State for
Defence)
I have today laid before the House a Departmental Minute describing
a package of equipment that the UK intends to provide to the
Jordanian Armed Forces. The value of the package is estimated at
£2,562,500.
The provision of equipment will be treated as a grant-in-kind.
Following correspondence from the Chair of the Public Accounts
Committee in 2016, Departments which previously treated these
payments as gifts have undertaken to notify the House of Commons
of any such grant-in-kind of a value exceeding £300,000 and
explaining the circumstances; and to refrain from making the
grant until fourteen parliamentary sitting days after the issue
of the minute, except in cases of special urgency.
The grant-in-kind in this case comprises vehicles, furniture and
IT equipment, generators and a range of personal-issue items. The
granting of this equipment will support the Jordanian Defence
& Borders Programme and is fundamental to the aims of the
Government Strategy for Jordan. Delivery of targeted areas of
equipment support is an integral part of the approach in order to
assist Jordan in developing the capability to protect its
borders. The activity is in support of the National Security
Council objectives and is funded through the Conflict, Security
and Stability Fund administered by the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, the Department for International Development and the
Ministry of Defence.
Subject to completion of the Departmental Minute process, the
equipment is expected to be delivered in early 2018.
