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Government Accountability

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2006, Official Report, columns 786–7W, on government accountability, how much his Department (a) has spent on each of the last three years and (b) expects to spend in 2005–06 on support for African parliaments; how much in total his Department expects to spend on each of the projects and initiatives referred to in the answer; what the objectives are of each such project and initiative; what progress has been made on each; and which partner organisations are involved with each. [54238]

Hilary Benn: DFID has spent £1.21 million in 2003–04, £1.6 million in 2004–05 and expects to spend £1.41 million in 2005–06 in support of African parliaments. A breakdown of these figures by programmes referred to in the answer of 6 February is set out in the following table, along with a description of the objectives, progress and donor partners involved in each.
 
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In addition, in its policy discussions with developing country partners, DFID promotes greater transparency and accountability and encourages the involvement of
 
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local parliamentarians, civil society and the media in the development and review of poverty reduction plans and domestic budgeting processes.
DFID spend towards projects supporting African parliaments (2003–04 to 2005–06)

	Spend (£) 2003–04	Spend (£) 2004–05	Expected Spend (£) 2005–06	Objectives of project/ initiative	What progress has been made on each	Donor partners
The Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB)			12,500	To strengthen parliaments and parliamentarians in West and Southern Africa	This programme has just begun. It will enhance the capacity of parliamentarians to carry out their legislative and representative roles in West and Southern Africa, and to hold government's to account.	World Bank International Monetary Fund
Kenya
Work with Parliamentary committees including library services			9,537	To enhance the effectiveness of parliament and parliamentary committees through the provision of information, research and legal services.	Technical assistance has been provided and capacity building workshops held for the Parliament Service Commission to draw up an information strategy. A tender for the design and development of modern library and information services has been issued.	European Commission
Malawi
Support to parliament and civil society relations	920,494	1.108m	505,000	Support for the National Democratic Institute (NDI) to strengthen Parliamentary committees (2001–04), and to enhance civil society's involvement in parliamentary processes	Parliamentary Committees are working more effectively Parliamentary candidates debated issues in their constituencies for the first time on a common platform Civil Society Organisations and Parliament have worked together to monitor the government's budget The Malawi Federation for Disabilities influenced the government to pass Malawi's first Disability policy following NDI sponsored advocacy training.	USAID, Canadian development agency, United Nations Development Programme
				Tikambirane (2003–08): A programme to strengthen Parliament's ability to act independently from the Executive in fulfilling its representative, legislative and oversight function	Through the Tikambirane programme training has been provided to elections monitors, party candidates, and to help parties develop campaigning strategies The programme has involved young people in politics, monitored political bias in the media and provided logistical and IT support to the Electoral Commission and for the publication of the electoral roll.
Nigeria
Work with USAID and National Democratic Institute to support the National Assembly			500,000	To develop the National Assembly's ability to support pro-poor reform	The first work-plan is currently under development and includes: support to Committees working on Millennium Development Goal areas, building the Assembly's capacity to support Nigeria's poverty reduction strategy, and linking reformers within the Assembly and civil society.	USAID, World Bank,
Tanzania
Work with USAID and National Democratic Institute to strengthen parliamentary committees	250,000	350,000	(1)250,000	To help strengthen Parliament's capacity to carry out its oversight, lawmaking and representative roles. To support the administration in Parliament.	Finance and Economic Affairs Committees, Parliamentary Accounts Committees and Local Authority Accounts Committee have increased activities and visibility. Relationships between parliament and civil society organisations have improved. This has helped to strengthen representation and information dissemination in Parliament.	USAID
Sierra Leone
Work with USAID and National Democratic Institute to strengthen parliamentary committees		119,575		To help strengthen the Parliamentary Committees to play an effective oversight and leadership role in budget and legislative scrutiny and law-making.	A workplan to address weaknesses in parliamentary policies and processes was developed in the second half of 2004. Consultation on the work plan continued in 2005, but the programme has stalled and is likely to be closed early, in 2006—rather than 2007. Given that there will be elections in 2007 the pre-election period will be used to design a new initiative in support of Parliament.	USAID
Ethiopia
Developing capacity building programmes for parliaments			21,350	To build the capacity of federal and regional parliaments	Using lessons-learned from previous parliamentary support programmes, DFID and other donors are designing a capacity building programme to be financed from a joint donor fund. In the interim, DFID has provided the House of Peoples' Representatives with technical expertise on parliamentary rules of procedure	Multi-donor including: USAID, Netherlands, Canadian Development Agency, Denmark and Finland
Uganda
Developing capacity building programmes for parliaments	42,228	31,229	50,000	To support the restructuring of the Parliamentary Service so that it can serve MPS more effectively; To support development of a Strategic Investment Plan, supporting activities with Parliament to deepen democracy and accountability. To establish a joint donor basket fund to enhance Parliament's ownership and reduce transaction costs.	Progress has been made in implementing recommended restructuring. Investment. plan finalised and now used as a basis for co-ordination of partner support around priorities identified by Parliament. Basket fund established. Recent focus has been on supporting activities to prepare Parliamentary Service for Uganda's first multi-party Parliament in over two decades.	USAID, European Commission, UNDP, Sweden and Norway.
Zambia
Developing capacity building programmes for Parliament under the Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability Programme(PEMFA)			(2)55,000	To develop the capacity of Parliament to oversee public resources management to promote democratic governance, transparency and accountability	The programme has strengthened the capacity of Public Accounts Committees and Estimates Committees through: training on public financial management and study tours to other Parliaments; attachment of senior staff to Parliaments in the Region and attendance of a Regional Parliamentary Workshop.	Denmark, European Commission, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, World Bank

⁽¹⁾ Funds provided through USAID in tranches
⁽²⁾ Financing of the PEMFA programme is through a multi-donor pooled funding arrangement. DFID's contribution of £55,000 is 35 per cent. of the total donor funding



 
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Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the agreed efficiency target for his Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review is to be cashable; and under what budget headings these cashable efficiency savings will be re-spent. [52826]

Hilary Benn: DFID has an efficiency target of £420 million as set out in the 2004 Spending Review. Of this target, £30 million is to be cashable. £20 million of these cashable savings will come from administration costs efficiencies, and will be transferred to the programme to provide direct development benefits. The remaining £10 million will be achieved through procurement efficiencies, and will therefore increase the availability of programme funds.

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the target level of employment expressed as full-time equivalents is in his Department by April 2008, in order to meet his Department's Civil Service workforce reductions target set out in the 2004 Spending Review. [52845]

Hilary Benn: The target level of employment in DFID by April 2008, as full-time equivalents and as set out in the 2004 Spending Review, is 1,610 UK-based staff and 950 Staff Appointed In Country.

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what total efficiency savings were achieved by his Department in 2004–05; and whether these count towards the agreed efficiency target for his Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review. [52864]

 
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Hilary Benn: DFID'S efficiency programme began in April 2005, so no efficiency savings were recorded in 2004–05. By the end of December 2005, DFID has achieved £41.1 million of efficiency gains.

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