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Liberia

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) direct and (b) indirect aid his Department provided to Liberia in 2004–05. [54655]

Hilary Benn: DFID supported Liberia with £6 million of humanitarian aid in financial year 2004–05, via a range of humanitarian agencies. It was used for basic health care, emergency medical services, water and sanitation, humanitarian air services, protection for displaced people, and their education and re-integration.

In addition, the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR) process was assisted with £3 million (£2 million via the UN Trust Fund and £1 million for UNICEF's Programmes of Education and Reintegration for Children Associated with the Fighting Forces).

DFID also began support for governance reforms with initial expenditure of approximately £200,000.

Figures for DFID support to Liberia through multilateral in 2004–05 are not yet available from the Development Assistance Committee. The latest (estimated) information dates from 2003 when DFID provided £1 million through the EC, and £700,000 through the United Nations.

Mexico

Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance he gave to Mexico following the recent hurricanes. [54917]

Mr. Thomas: Following recent hurricanes, Mexico showed sufficient national capacity to respond without international assistance. Therefore there was no request for international assistance by the Mexican Government.

Had there been a request, DFID would have been well placed to respond, as we have after other hurricanes in the region. Throughout the last hurricane season the DFID Caribbean office was strengthened to enhance tropical storm monitoring, preparedness, assessment and response capacity. DFID also had relief supplies on one of the UK frigates based in the Caribbean.

Middle East

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2006 to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), Official Report, column 1806W, on the Middle East, what assessment he has made of the implications for the allocation of aid of the post-election policy statements of the leadership of Hamas on the recognition of Israel, the renunciation of violence and the acceptance of previous obligations and agreements. [56061]

 
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Hilary Benn: There is currently an interim administration in charge of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Until a new government takes office and makes clear its position on the conditions in the Quartet statement of 30 January, it is too early to say what the UK Government's future aid programme to the Palestinians might look like.

Montserrat

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid was given by the UK to Montserrat in (a) 1980 and (b) 2004. [55939]

Mr. Thomas: DFID's aid to Montserrat in 1980 was £1.2 million and £20.3 million in 2004.

Multilateral Institutions

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on mechanisms for identifying and correcting poor performance by multilateral institutions. [55923]

Hilary Benn: DFID is committed to monitoring the effectiveness of the multilateral organisations it supports. During 2004, we conducted an assessment of 23 multilateral agencies looking at their internal systems. We used a common multilateral effectiveness framework (MEFF) to better understand how well they were organised to deliver their objectives. The assessments were carried out in partnership with the agencies concerned.

DFID uses the results of the MEFF in conjunction with other assessments, such as the surveys carried out by the Multilateral Organisations Performance Assessment Network, and the reporting of multilateral themselves, to assess multilateral performance and to inform partnership decisions.

At the country level, we assess the impact and effectiveness of multilaterals with whom we have a relationship drawing on the views of partner Governments and donors. This evidence based approach helps us engage with multilaterals at a number of levels and informs our decisions around financing.

In addition, we undertake monitoring of multilateral organisations working on particular issues, for example the delivery of humanitarian services. These are framed by institutional strategies which set out jointly agreed objectives between DFID and the organisation linked to financial support. The aim is to foster a transparent relationship which set outs clear principals and targets linked explicitly to improving effectiveness.

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on consolidation within the multilateral system. [55924]

Hilary Benn: 2005 was an important year with real progress made as a result of a number of events; the publications of the UN Secretary General's 'In Larger Freedom' report and Commission for Africa report, the G8 summit, Live8, the Make Poverty History Campaign, the Millennium Development Review and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade talks. 2006 and beyond, presents significant challenges as we have to deliver on the commitments made in 2005.
 
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An effective multilateral system will be important to delivering on these commitments. Our vision and the role the UK is playing to support a consolidated and effective multilateral system will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper on international development.

We have already welcomed the announcement at the millennium summit review on the establishment of a Peace Building Commission and Human Rights Council, both of whom have an important role to play towards meeting the millennium development goals (MDG)s.

We are committed to revisiting the structure of the multilateral system (the UN, EU, multilateral banks) and their mandates to ensure that overlap is reduced. We want to see the right agency or organisation, focusing on its area of strength, in the right context with the funding levels it needs to deliver. For example the proliferation of UN agencies has created a complex structure where overlap is evident. We are working toward a more effective and efficient multilateral system which is able to respond to the changing global context.

We also strongly welcome the Secretary General's recent announcement of an international panel to review the UN's development work. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is a member of this panel and we will be putting forward the case for a strong development role for the UN in the future, involving more stable and predictable financing to meet clear objectives. This would build on the considerable work already begun by the UN's various specialised agencies, funds and programmes to co-ordinate their efforts more closely at the country level. We will also take advantage of the opportunity presented by the White Paper to set out what we think are important roles for both the EU and the multilateral development banks in the 21st century.

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria his Department uses to select multilateral partners. [55925]

Hilary Benn: The international system, which includes the multilaterals, was designed for the challenges of the post world war II period. Today we are facing new challenges including energy security, climate change, health pandemics, corruption and organised crime. We need a new vision that is fit for purpose in today's world, within which we need to clarify the role of multilaterals. DFID is particularly focused on this as we contribute around 40 per cent. of our total development assistance through the multilateral agencies to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs).

We are working with the international community to agree objectives on reform. These include the role of the United Nations, European Union and international financial institutions in relation to priorities such as addressing insecurity, natural resources depletion and improving humanitarian assistance.

Looking ahead to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007, we are looking at multilaterals and assessing their impact against the contribution bilateral
 
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programmes make towards achievement of the MDGs This analysis will help us identify criteria for selecting multilateral partners and to help us make financing decisions which have the greatest impact on the lives of the world's poor people.

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his assessment of the Multilateral Effectiveness Framework. [55926]

Hilary Benn: The Multilateral Effectiveness Framework (MEFF), a major assessment of the organisational effectiveness of 23 multilateral agencies was completed in 2004 and the results shared with the respective agencies. Areas of both comparative strength and weakness were identified. The key areas of weakness are being given priority in the tracking over multilateral performance over the next two years.

A key aspect of effectiveness assessed by the MEFF was the degree to which multilateral were improving their focus on results, including by supporting national systems and poverty reduction plans, delegating more responsibility to country offices, and monitoring their own contribution to development outcomes.

The assessments highlighted the positive impact of recent reforms. A significant number of multilaterals were able to demonstrate improvements in how they monitored their own effectiveness and how they managed by results. There was also evidence of greater preparedness to work in partnership with each other.

Through the MEFF, DFID has developed a greater understanding about its multilateral partners, and we will continue to support them to address the areas of relative weakness the individual assessments identified.

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