Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions he has had with her Norwegian counterpart on that country's decision in 2019 to withhold funding to the Palestinian Authority if extremist content is not removed by the Palestinian Authority’s from the school curriculum; and if she will make a statement.

The UK government is deeply concerned about the allegations of incitement in the Palestinian Authority’s school textbooks. The International Development Secretary reiterated our concerns in a call to the Palestinian Authority’s Education Minister just last month.

The UK has been at the forefront of international action to get to the bottom of the allegations. We funded work to develop the methodology for an independent textbook Review sponsored by our European partners. We expect an interim report in June, with a full report later in the year. The UK has regular discussions with our European partners on the Review. I have not had specific discussions with my Norwegian counterpart on this issue.