§ 27. Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he proposes to take to ensure that funds provided by the United Kingdom for overseas aid to areas controlled by the Palestine National Authority are properly used for the purposes provided. [20707]
§ Mr. HanleyAll UK bilateral aid to the Palestinians is closely monitored and is channelled through reputable British project management organisations or international agencies with proven and reliable systems of disbursement.
§ Mr. JannerWhat check is made at the other end as to the actual disbursement, and what safeguards are in place to ensure that none of the money properly and rightly raised in this country or by other international 703 donors for the Palestine National Authority is used in any way or at any time for the activities of Hamas or Islamic jihad, whether for so-called communal welfare projects or anything else?
§ Mr. HanleyThe hon. and learned Gentleman raises an extremely important issue about which I am sure that the House shares his anxiety. Overseas Development Administration projects on the West Bank and in Gaza are monitored by project managers under contract to the ODA, by regular visits from ODA staff and by the consulate general in Jerusalem, which I visited recently. Staff at the consulate general have been strengthened by the secondment of an ODA officer as field manager for our aid programme.
The UK receives great plaudits for the ODA's targeting of its aid. Its projects are extremely good—I can vouch for that. We have provided some £5.5 million of assistance to the police in Palestine over the past 18 months, and we are also helping with a number of health and education projects. I can confirm that the aid money going to the Palestinians is well spent, well targeted and well audited.
Not long ago, I attended the donors' conference at which $850 million was collected for the Palestinians from 51 sources. I do not believe that that money would have been raised if there had been serious doubts about its proper maintenance and disbursement. If we receive any evidence that money is being collected in this country by Hamas for terrorist activities, we shall not fail to act immediately. That is something that we would not accept.
§ Mr. SumbergI emphasise the point made by the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner). It is vital to ensure that money does not get into the hands of terrorists. We call on the United States Government to ensure that money does not go to the IRA for its evil purposes, and we must call on the Palestinian authorities to ensure that money does not go to Hamas.
§ Mr. HanleyI agree with my hon. Friend. It is vital that money raised for the Palestinians is not diverted to sponsor terrorism. That would be unacceptable to the Government and, I am sure, to all right hon. and hon. Members. The Charity Commission is investigating an accusation. If we, the Government, receive any information or evidence, we shall act on it immediately.