Counterterrorism

House of Lords written question – answered at on 2 February 2009.

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Photo of Baroness Neville-Jones Baroness Neville-Jones Shadow Security Minister, Home Affairs

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the £6 million funding announced on 15 December 2008 as part of the United Kingdom's counter-terrorism assistance programme with Pakistan is exclusively for de-radicalisation efforts, or will fund other measures such as bomb disposal capability, scanning devices and airport security; and from which department's budgets the funding will come.

Photo of Lord Malloch-Brown Lord Malloch-Brown Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Minister of State (Africa, Asia and the UN)

The UK's counterterrorism co-operation with Pakistan is the most important and comprehensive government programme of its kind. The £6 million announced by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister during his recent visit is the approximate value of projects currently planned or under way in Pakistan to counter the causes of violent extremism. This includes projects aimed at empowering young people and women, strengthening democratic institutions, the media and the justice system, and building awareness and understanding of the causes of radicalisation. These projects are funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office administered Counter-Terrorism and Radicalisation Programme (CTRP).

In addition to this my right honourable friend the Prime Minister announced that we are enhancing our counterterrorism co-operation with Pakistan, including by:

Strengthening our co-operation with the Pakistani police through information sharing and capacity building projects at federal and provincial level, including on forensic science, crime scene management, and crisis response;

Developing Pakistani military and police capabilities on detection of improvised explosive devices and bomb disposal;Working in partnership to improve civil aviation security through liaison, inward visits and training of aviation security officials; andHelping the Government of Pakistan develop their crisis and consequence-management capability.

Overall we plan to spend in excess of £10 million this year on projects that impact directly on Pakistani capacity to address terrorism.

In addition, the British Council's substantial Pakistan Programme seeks to promote intercultural dialogue, community cohesion and positive social change.

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