Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what help they can offer to Turkey to assist in the cultural preservation of damaged historical buildings in the Suriçi neighbourhood.

The UK Government has committed £30 million to help protect and restore cultural heritage in twelve target countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Turkey, through the establishment of the Cultural Protection Fund. The British Council is funding two projects in Diyarbakir province which includes Suriçi. The projects will cover surveys, documentation and condition assessments of buildings in order to allow for appropriate conservation planning in the future.