Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government plans to fund the Palestinian Authority other than in accordance with the Government response, Future UK support to the Occupied Palestinian Territories published on 16 December 2016, and in particular paragraphs 1 and 2 of the notes to editors as claimed by WAFA, the Palestinian National Authority news agency on 25 November 2017.

UK financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) continues to be provided in accordance with the Government response, “Future UK support to the Occupied Palestinian Territories” published on 16 December 2016. UK financial assistance to the PA is only used to help pay the salaries of health and education public servants in the West Bank. Only named public servants from a pre-approved EU list are eligible and a robust verification system validates that funds are used for the intended purposes. This enables around 25,000 young Palestinians to get an education, provides up to 3,700 immunisations for children, and around 185,000 medical consultations annually.