To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is on restricting aid to nations that promote and maintain policies and practices that discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; and if she will make a statement.

The UK recognises that human rights underpin sustainable development. DFID’s partnership principles require that before providing direct support to Governments, we assess their shared commitment to respecting the human rights of citizens, including the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Where we have specific concerns about a government’s failure to protect its citizens’ rights we raise these at the highest levels of the government concerned. We may judge that specific human rights concerns are sufficiently serious to merit a suspension of our aid to that government. However, our priority will be to ensure that the interests of poor people are protected, and groups are not exposed to further risk as a result of UK action.