§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's liaison and co-operation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. [177930]
§ Mr. BrowneThe UK is currently the fifth largest donor to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Government gave the organisation £25 million in 2003–04. Both the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Home Office work with UNHCR in a number of areas. DFID's regional staff work closely with UNHCR on refugee protection projects all over the world, and its London-based staff liaise with UNHCR's headquarters over programme strategy and financial management. The Home Office also works closely with UNHCR on a number of issues including on the Gateway Protection Programme (resettlement) and voluntary returns.