Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to promote collaboration between UK companies and the government of Iraq on development of solar technology to power desalination plants to provide clean drinking water to areas of shortage in that country.

While DFID does not currently fund any work on the development of solar technology in Iraq, in response to the recent crisis we have committed a package of emergency humanitarian assistance totalling £5 million, which will reach over 140,000 displaced people, or 28% of those affected, with life-saving assistance.