III. EXAMINATION OF EXPENDITURE
20. DFID's Annual Departmental Report 2002 formed
the basis for the evidence session with the Permanent Secretary.
In addition to the oral evidence session the Committee asked a
range of written questions relating to the lack of categorisation
of planned expenditure by Millennium Development Goal and the
increasing use of direct budget support. The Departmental Report
did not explain the thinking behind DFID's policy of continuing
bilateral programmes in so many partner countries (145), or the
criteria for allocating resources to the individual countries.
These subjects proved worthwhile areas for scrutiny during the
evidence session. In addition, on a more technical level, the
Committee raised the apparent non-reconciliation between the figures
contained in the total resource budget as reported in the Departmental
Report and the figure contained in the Estimates. The Committee
also queried the changes in provisions identified in the Main
Estimates.
21. Extent to which systematic structure is in
place for meeting the indicative tasks listed, and response of
department?
The Committee's annual session on the Departmental
report is a regular occurrence in the scheme of work, and is preceded
by detailed written questions to the Department.
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