§ Lord Clarke of Hampsteadasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, following the publication on 26 January of the Department for International Development consultancy contracts issued since 1997 (think tanks), they have a full breakdown of how the Palestinian Negotiations Affairs Department has spent the £9,131,555 provided to it by DfID since 1999; and [HL1271]
Following the publication on 26 January of the Department for International Development consultancy contracts issued since 1997 (think tanks), what mechanisms were put in place to hold the Palestinian Negotiations Affairs Department and the Palestinian Authority leadership accountable for the £9,131,555 invested since 1999 so as to ensure that it was not used in an inappropriate manner. [HL1272]
§ Baroness AmosDfID does not fund the Palestinian Negotiations Affairs Department directly. Our support is delivered through a contract with ASI Ltd which is accountable to us for the use of our funding against an agreed budget and objectives for the operations of a negotiations support unit (NSU). We maintain a full record of expenditure under our contract with ASI Ltd in its management of the NSU. Invoices are submitted monthly which set out expenditure against agreed contract parameters. Our funding pays for technical assistance provided by international and local consultants, and the operational costs of NSU's office. Our contractual agreement with ASI Ltd is clear about the objective of the project, and the nature of activities to be funded. We have established arrangements for formal monitoring against agreed workplans, and are currently finalising plans to integrate this process with the four other governments, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands and Denmark, that provide complementary funding.
The purpose of the project is to provide professional legal, technical, policy and communications advice to the Palestinian Authority in preparation for, and during, permanent status negotiations with Israel. 70WA Following the breakdown of formal negotiations the NSU has broadened its role by seeking to encourage the resumption of permanent status negotiations by contributing to a variety of diplomatic peace initiatives. The project supports those in the Palestinian Authority who are committed to peace. We have no reason to doubt that all project activities have been consistent with these objectives.