To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the merits of providing funding for the rebuilding work required in Orissa following the violence against Christians in that region.

According to official figures, the majority of people displaced by the violence in Orissa have already returned to their villages. There are now only three functional relief camps managed by the Government of Orissa, in which about 1,000 people are housed. A process is currently under way to resettle these people in their villages at the earliest opportunity.

In keeping with its standard policy, the Government of India have not requested bilateral assistance to deal with rehabilitation work in the aftermath of the violence. Accordingly DFID has not made any assessment of funding for rebuilding work. We have, however, raised the issue of social exclusion and violence against minorities in our discussions with the Government of Orissa.