Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to use the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund to provide increased counter-terrorism support to North and West African regional governments; and whether they plan to use that Fund to increase their information-gathering and early warning capabilities in those countries in the region which they have assessed present less of a threat to the United Kingdom.

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund is one part of a broader approach to UK prioritisation in fragile states, governed by the National Security Council. With the National Security Council at the core, the Government has been making strategic decisions for the most effective use of limited departmental resources. The resource allocation process is still ongoing. Once this is concluded, Parliament will be informed of the allocations outcomes, and I will ensure that the Noble Lord is provided with this information.