Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer to Question 104985, whether he has received assurances from the Palestinian Authority that it will publish the findings of an independent audit it commissioned into the continuation of the Palestinian Authority's practise of paying salaries to convicted terrorists and their families.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 2 October in response to Question HL3470, printed here for ease:

"A reformed Palestinian Authority is essential to long-term stability in the region and progressing towards a two-state solution. We welcome the Palestinian Authority's commitment, underlined in the UK-PA Memorandum of Understanding, to reform prisoner payments so that welfare payments are based on needs and not linked to acts of violence. The audit has been completed, and initial reports indicate that the new needs-based system is in place. We await full publication of the audit so that this can be verified. Alongside our partners, the UK will continue to support the Palestinian Authority as it delivers its important reform agenda."