Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to seek to ensure that the educational system in Pakistan does not promote discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK Government strongly condemns religious persecution and we will continue to engage the Government of Pakistan on the need to uphold the social, economic and political rights of all of its citizens, regardless of faith, gender or ethnicity. We continue to raise the issue of freedom of religion and belief at the highest levels of government.
We work closely with provincial governments in areas in which we work to ensure their curriculums promote values of inclusion, diversity and religious tolerance. Through the Ilm Two programme DFID also has a programme supporting the production of additional reading materials that specifically focus on religious tolerance and inclusion.
Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that no funding from the public purse is used by the Palestinian Authority to support or assist any person involved in the murder of Hannah Bladon in Jerusalem; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Rory Stewart
UK financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is only used to fund the salaries of PA health and education public servants in the West Bank who are on a vetted EU list. The list of eligible beneficiaries is subject to a vetting process that includes screening against international and ad hoc sanctions lists, covering a large number of different risk categories including terrorism financing. The UK utterly deplores any violence or intolerance.
Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK aid is not being passed on by the Palestinian Authority to the families of people who have been involved in terrorist activity.
Answered by Rory Stewart
UK financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is only used to fund the salaries of PA health and education public servants in the West Bank who are on a vetted EU list. The list of eligible beneficiaries is subject to a vetting process that includes screening against international and ad hoc sanctions lists, covering a large number of different risk categories including terrorism financing.
Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will hold discussions with the UN on the alleged misappropriation of reconstruction building materials to Hamas in Gaza.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
DFID has provided £0.7 million to the Materials Monitoring Unit (MMU) which monitors the import, storage, supply and use of construction materials into Gaza under the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) in order to help ensure that materials are used for civilian purposes. The MMU has identified certain cases of resale or misappropriation of materials and taken appropriate remedial action, keeping donors including the UK closely informed. We take seriously allegations of misappropriation of building materials and have regular and regular discussions with the UN to raise these concerns.