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Famine (Overseas Aid)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid the Government has allocated to (a) Niger and (b) other countries in the region in relation to the current famine. [25865]

Hilary Benn: In response to the current food crisis in the Sahel, DFID has allocated £3.25 million to Niger, £550,000 to Mali and £110,00 to Burkina Faso.

Iraq

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the international aid for Iraqi reconstruction. [25339]

Hilary Benn: The international community is providing support to the Iraqi Government to help rebuild Iraq and improve the quality of life for its people. At the Madrid Conference in October 2003, 37 bilateral donors, the European Community, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pledged a total of US$32 billion for Iraq's reconstruction. Since 2003, the amount pledged for Iraq's reconstruction has risen to over $40 billion. As of October 2005, over US$14 billion of these pledges has been spent.

The UK pledged £544 million for humanitarian and reconstruction work in Iraq, of which more than £350 million has been spent to date. DFID's programme of assistance this year, focuses on macro-economic reform, strengthening Iraqi institutions at the centre of government and in the south, improving power and water supplies in the south, strengthening Iraqi civil society and encouraging broad participation in the political process. Reconstruction activities in Iraq are also funded by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and the Global Conflict Prevention Pool for Iraq (jointly funded by MOD, FCO, and DFID).

The following table provides details on the other major international aid programmes in Iraq.
 
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	Major international aid programmes
United States	The US has approved more than $28 billion for Iraq's reconstruction. This is being spent on programmes in a wide range of sectors including power, water and sanitation, oil production, transport, health, education, civil society and the training and equipping of Iraqi security forces.
Japan	Japan has fully committed US$1.5 billion of grant assistance to Iraq and is currently in discussion with the Iraqi Government on the use of its US$3.5 billion concessional loan programme which will focus on medium-term infrastructure projects.
World Bank	The World Bank has pledged a minimum of US$3 billion in lending to Iraq. An interim Strategy Note on World Bank assistance to Iraq was recently approved, and outlines the bank's support over the next two years, including the implementation of a US$500 million International Development Assistance concessional loan programme. The World Bank is also implementing projects under the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (see below).
IMF	The IMF has pledged to provide over US$2.5 billion in lending to Iraq. In September 2004, the IMF Board approved US$436 million of Emergency Post-Conflict Assistance (EPCA). The main goals under the EPCA are to maintain economic stability, lay the groundwork for future economic reform, and begin the process of restoring Iraq's fiscal and external debt sustainability.
International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI)—United Nations and World Bank Trust Funds	Bilateral donors have channelled over US$1 billion into the IRFFI, which is managed jointly by the UN and World Bank. Funded through IRFFI, the UN and World Bank have delivered £69 million school textbooks, rehabilitated schools, provided vaccines, conducted extensive training programmes, provided humanitarian relief, and supported the elections. DFID contributed £70 million to the IRFFI in 2004.
European Commission	The EC has allocated over €500 million for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, and is currently focusing on improving basic education, health services, and employment opportunities. The EC has also contributed funds and expertise to the constitutional process and the elections.
Australia	Australia has allocated over US$90 million for reconstruction assistance focussing on support to the agriculture sector, trade reform, electricity and police training.
Canada	Canada has allocated over US$222 million for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, mainly channelled through multilateral programmes.
Denmark	Denmark has allocated over US$85 million focusing on human rights, rule of law and police, infrastructure, agriculture and humanitarian assistance.

The Iraqi Government are leading on the reconstruction and development of Iraq and have presented a National Development Strategy outlining
 
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its reconstruction priorities. The Iraqi Government co-ordinates their own and international reconstruction funding by means of Sector Working groups that meet regularly in Baghdad, chaired by Iraqi Ministries with support from the United Nations, the World Bank and a range of donors. Iraq has huge potential, and increasingly, oil sales, tax revenues and foreign investment will be able to finance reconstruction costs, so that Iraq will rely less on external donors.

In spite of the obvious challenges, reconstruction is continuing and progress has been made. For example, there has been continued economic growth, power generation is higher than before the conflict, more Iraqis now have access to drinking water and sewerage systems, thousands of healthcare and education facilities have been rehabilitated, transport and telecommunications systems are improving and civil society groups and the media are flourishing and finding ways of engaging in the political process.

Leprosy

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's actions to help eradicate leprosy in developing countries. [25997]

Mr. Thomas: Much of the remaining global leprosy burden is found in India where DFID provides specific targeted project support through the Leprosy Mission. DFID funds community based efforts to improve access to care, reduce stigma and rehabilitate those affected. Similar projects with other non-government organisations have recently ended in Brazil and Nepal. DFID provides substantial support to developing countries to implement their national health plans. Such plans address the major causes of illness, death and disability, including leprosy where it remains a problem.

Maldives Islands

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much development aid the Maldives islands has received in each year since 1997. [25829]

Mr. Thomas: The following table sets out how much development aid the Maldives have received each year since 1997, and how much aid they have received from the UK:
Total donor aid and UK aid to Maldives: 1997–2004

£ millions
	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Total all donors	15.82	15.09	18.96	12.73	17.32	18.30	12.58	(1)—
Total UK	0.25	0.27	0.31	0.32	0.24	0.26	0.21	0.2

⁽¹⁾ not available

The UK also provides aid through multilateral institutions, some of which will benefit the Maldives. The following table sets out the UK's equivalent contribution to the Maldives as a share of our multilateral assistance.
£ thousands

UK multilateral shares	EC	Other	UN	World Bank	Grand total
1998	0.0	10.0	130.0	230.0	370.0
1999	30.0	0.00	140.0	0.0	170.0
2000	30.0	40.0	190.0	140.0	400.0
2001	10.0	120.0	200.0	-30.0	300.0
2002	0.0	200.0	150.0	0.00	350.0
2003	0.0	230.0	150.0	340.0	720.0

Source:
DAC on-line and imputed multilateral shares—4 November 2005





 
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Millennium Development Goals

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he expects the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people without access to clean water to be reached by 2015; and how his Department is contributing towards this goal. [25990]

Hilary Benn: While the global target to halve the proportion of people without access to safe water by 2015 should be achieved, sub-Saharan Africa is not expected to meet it. The linked target for sanitation is likely to be missed.

DFID is working with governments and development agencies including the UN to increase access to water and sanitation. This year I announced a doubling of UK aid for water to Africa by 2007–08.

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