Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 25 March (HL14416), why the Prosperity Fund does not have any projects in Tunisia.

The UK is working alongside our international partners in Tunisia to support economic reforms to tackle the long term challenges facing the country, including youth unemployment.

We have been increasing our support for these issues through the North Africa Good Governance Fund, through which we will spend over £12m in 2019/20 – more than doubling our support since 2014/15.

The Prosperity Fund is a Fund with 27 multiyear programmes. With £1.2 billion to spend over 7 years the Fund had to prioritise countries and sectors where there is the most potential for inclusive growth and poverty impact; and where UK expertise could make a difference. Tunisia was not considered a priority country for the Fund.