Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 20 September (HL1252), what is the role of Tamkeen in delivering UK aid to support moderates in Syria; which local councils are receiving UK aid through Tamkeen; and whether individuals associated with proscribed organisations, such as Al Qaida, are or have been members of councils which have received UK aid.

The “Support to Emerging Local Governance in Syria (Tamkeen)” programme, which ended in 2016, and its successor, the “Strengthening Governance Structures (Tatweer)” programme, support Provincial and Local Councils in Syria by helping them to provide open and accountable local governance and services. Tatweer operates in 16 Syrian Local Councils identified as needing immediate basic services support across Idlib, Aleppo, Daraa and Rif Damascus governorates.

DFID has extensive controls in place to ensure that UK aid reaches those who need it and that it does not benefit extremists or terror groups, including vetting processes to ensure such groups are not part of the Councils with which we work. We actively manage the risks of operating in Syria. We stop funding to any project or sub-project where we have any concern that it could benefit proscribed groups.