Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they collect data on Department for International Development allocations by religion; if not, why not; and if not, whether they have considered the consistency of not collecting such data with the obligations under the Equalities Act 2010 in regard to religion.

DFID does not currently identify or record beneficiaries by their religion; however, our Data Disaggregation Action Plan has set out our increased ambitions to increase the level of disaggregated data we collect, report and use, and to work with the United Nations and others to improve data collection and disaggregation at a global level. Our short-term focus remains on four disaggregates (sex, age, disability status and geography) in the first instance to help us reorient our approach and raise our ambition whilst we work with others in the international system to find and develop tools, methods and guidance on further disaggregation variables.

The UK is firmly committed to ensuring aid reaches the most vulnerable, including those from religious minorities, where they constitute part of that category. In line with the Equality Act 2010, DFID operates by the humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality which aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion; and to also ensure that the specific risks facing religious minorities are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most.