HL Deb 28 June 1982 vol 432 cc139-40WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What bilateral or multilateral aid programmes supported by them positively educate people against the practices of female circumcision, excision and infibulation, and whether any relevant programme in the relevant countries deliberately refrain from doing so.

Lord Belstead

On a bilateral basis Her Majesty's Government have no specific projects to educate people against these practices. Multilaterally, the United Kingdom supports the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children's Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation, all of which regard female circumcision as an unnecessary and dangerous practice. All are prepared to help Governments, and, in the case of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Family Planning Associations, to develop programmes to counteract the practice. All carry out an educational role, both in collaboration with each other and independently to inform people about the harmful effects of female circumcision.

I am not aware of any programme deliberately refraining from disseminating information on the subject.