Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing UK aid to Somaliland.

The UK is already a leading partner of Somaliland, supporting its development and security, enhancing stability and promoting economic, human and social development. For a decade the UK has been the only Western bilateral donor with a permanent diplomatic presence in Hargeisa. The FCDO has invested £25 million of Official Development Assistance in the Berbera Corridor, which will drive economic growth in Somaliland and the region, and present significant opportunities for UK businesses.

The UK is also committed to supporting the ongoing humanitarian response in Somalia, including Somaliland. This financial year the UK intends to provide £156 million across East Africa to support communities affected by drought, conflict and flooding. This is in addition to the £46 million of humanitarian support that the UK contributed to Somalia, including Somaliland last financial year. Our aid is helping millions of people to access food, water and healthcare.