Jo meets PM to discuss terrorist threat

5.59.04pm GMT Wed 3rd Feb 2010

Jo met with the Prime Minister today to discuss the UK's security and the terrorist threat from Al Qa'eda in Yemen.

Yemen has come into the spotlight in recent weeks following the attempted bombing of a US airliner by Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who is thought to have trained with Al Qa'eda in Yemen.

The British Government has pledged its support to help Yemen defeat Al Qa'eda. The issues discussed during Ms Swinson's meeting with the Prime Minister included development aid to Yemen, security at Yemeni airports, and building links between communities in Britain and Yemen to foster co-operation and development.

According to the World Bank, around 42% of Yemenis live on less than $2 a day. At a meeting of international donors held in London in 2006, £3 billion of foreign aid was pledged, however only 7% of this has aid has been delivered.

Commenting, Jo said:

"The terrorist threat to the UK from Al Qa'eda in Yemen is very serious, and I appreciated the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister to discuss the Government's response.

"Economic development in Yemen is key to addressing the security situation and we should be doing all we can. This is vital both to improve the lives of Yemenis and to make us safer here in the UK."