To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government is providing to UN efforts to build national security institutions in Somalia; and if he will make a statement. (273728)

The international community pledged over US $53 million to the UN Trust Fund in support of Somali security institutions at the UN-organised pledging conference in Brussels on 23 April 2009. We have indicated our desire to work with the Somali authorities, the UN and the African Union Mission in Somalia to develop an accountable security sector, subject to a coherent plan being in place. We have offered to help develop such a plan, including through technical assistance to support oversight bodies.