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Mr. Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of his Department's spending in each less developed country in each of the last five years was directed to (a) direct budgetary support, (b) non-governmental organisations and (c) debt relief. [210318]
Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the DFID annual report Statistics in International Development" (SID) which contains some of the information requested. The latest (2004) edition is available in the House of Commons Library and on-line at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/sid2004/sid2004.asp
(a) The following table (drawn largely from SID Table 10.1) shows spending on direct budgetary support, now more commonly termed Poverty Reduction Budget Support" or PRBS. The table shows actual spend, and spend as a proportion of DFID's total bilateral programme aid to the relevant countries. This table includes data for the last four years. Data for 19992000 could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. Countries not included in the table have not received PRBS. Note, DFID spends some of its funds through multilateral agencies, some of which also distribute direct budget support. While we impute a notional share" of money we give to the EC, World Bank or other agencies as being spent in individual countries, we are not able to split this down further to show how much is spent as direct budget support.
(b) DFID is not able to distinguish the total amount of bilateral aid channelled through non-governmental organisations in individual countries, as this information is not held centrally. Table 7 of SID contains a column showing for each country, the amount of funds spent as Grants and other aid in kind". These will include sums dispersed via non-governmental organisations.
(c) Debt relief to individual countries in each of the last five years is shown in SID. Table 7 is split into 7.1 which contains data on African countries, 7.2 with data on the Americas, 7.3-Asia, 7.4-Europe and 7.5-Pacific.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries are the top 10 recipients of EU development aid; how much aid was given to each in the last year for which figures are available; and what the average annual income was in each country in that year. [211424]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: In 2003, the most recent year for which figures are available, the top ten recipients of European Commission (EC) Official Development Assistance (ODA) were:
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) consultancy and (b) equipment was provided under his Department's Integrated Personnel and Payroll Database Project in Ghana in 19992000. [210333]
Hilary Benn: In 19992000, DFID provided one consultancy for project management services under the Government of Ghana's Integrated Personnel and Payroll Database (IPPD). The role of the project team was to: draw up technical and procurement specifications for the replacement payroll system; improve the quality of payroll data; provide advice and training in payroll implementation; and provide technical support to keep the old payroll system running. DFID also funded a separate two-week procurement mission prior to the purchase of equipment for the project.
DFID procured equipment for IPPD both in the UK and in Ghana. This comprised: hardware to upgrade the existing mainframe computers at the Controller and Accountant General's office; the installation of a local area network; and personal computers on which to run the new payroll and train staff. DFID also provided office equipment (such as desks and computer printers) for the project team within the Controller and Accountant General's office, and two office vehicles.
The Government of Ghana used financial aid from DFID to procure the principal (Oracle) software for the project, which was customised to perform the payroll function. The Government of Ghana also engaged the consultancy services of Provison, Oracle's local agent, to implement the project.
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Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the impact an improved educational system would have on the social and economic situation in Guinea; how much (a) UK and (b) EU financial aid is earmarked for improving the education system; and if he will make a statement. [210717]
Hilary Benn: The UK does not have a bilateral development programme with Guinea. DFID has made no assessment of the education system. EU aid to Guinea is currently subject to consultations between the European Commission and the Government of Guinea, under the provisions of Article 96 of the Cotonou Treaty, due to concerns over political and governance issues. An EU Co-operation Strategy and Programme paper has been agreed but not yet signed; it does not envisage major support for education. The World Bank and the USA are the largest education sector donors to Guinea in the period 200106. The estimated EC share of support to the education sector in the same period is 8.6 per cent. (€15.6 million).
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