PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Afghanistan: Corruption (12 April 2016)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to assist the government of Afghanistan in tackling corruption in that country.

Asked by:
Gareth Thomas (Labour)

Answer

I have been asked to reply.

Helping Afghans to tackle corruption is critical to the UK’s engagement in Afghanistan. We are taking a leading role in raising the profile and priority of anti-corruption efforts and coordinating international efforts focused on interventions that contribute to the building of a stable political settlement and a viable state.

The UK’s objectives are to:

  • Change norms and incentives: supporting increased transparency, citizen engagement, civil society advocacy and oversight, and applying greater political pressure;
  • Strengthen systems to reduce opportunity: supporting stronger private sector regulation, strengthening public financial management and administrative controls;
  • Increase risk to individuals: supporting enforcement to increase sanctions, controlling access to the UK and increasing reputational risk; and
  • Minimise risk in UK-funded activity: improving use of evidence and further strengthening programme and risk management.

Answered by:
Sir Desmond Swayne (Conservative)
18 April 2016

Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.