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 its aid budget is (a) spent on the projects to which it is allocated and (b) not diverted to terrorist organisations.

The Department for International Development has controls in place to protect its aid budget throughout the project cycle. Every project is subject to an annual performance review and a project completion review to ensure that the objectives have been achieved and aid has been delivered to the intended beneficiaries. Controls also include a comprehensive risk management framework which requires risk to be identified at design stage and reassessed regularly during the project. This includes the risk of aid diversion to terrorist organisations. Prior to the release of funding the Department undertakes a rigorous due diligence process on its delivery partners, with the findings re-tested at each annual project performance review.

The Department is proactively engaged in the cross Government agenda to strengthen its response to the threat of terrorist financing. Internal procedures and guidance have been enhanced and a dedicated Counter Terrorist Financing Officer appointed.