Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the freezing of funds to the Taliban Government, what plans her Department has to ensure aid reaches people who require it in Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister has said that the Government will increase our overall assistance for Afghanistan to £286 million this financial year. On 31 October the Prime Minister announced the allocation of £50 million of that money for humanitarian purposes. The UK Government is providing life-saving humanitarian assistance through the UN and other trusted Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) on the ground, who are continuing to ensure that it reaches those who need it most. All aid that was being channelled through the Afghan Government has stopped. All UK aid is subject to strict monitoring and verification to ensure it is only used to help the vulnerable people it is intended for.