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8 Jan 2007 : Column 390W—continued
Hilary Benn: Aid is classified as poverty reduction budget support (PRBS) if it is merged with other domestic resources and accounted for alongside the rest of the partner Government's expenditure through their reporting and accounting systems and reports of the Auditor General. Sector budget support is aid that is earmarked for expenditure either in a particular sector, sub sector, programme, or set of expenditure lines. The general principle is that this is aid which is spent using national or sub-national financial management, procurement and accountability systems. Before deciding to provide sector budget support a fiduciary risk assessment is undertaken to assess the partner Government Public Financial Management Administration systems for the effective use of and accounting for the funds.
For financial aid to be classified as a sector wide approach (SWAp), the following criteria would need to be met:
There is a comprehensive sector policy and strategy in place:
An annual sector expenditure programme and medium term Sectoral Expenditure Framework:
Donor coordination is government led:
Major donors can provide support within the agreed framework.
As well as at least one of the following:
A significant number of donors committed to moving towards greater reliance on government financial and accountability systems:
A common approach by donors to implementation and management.
Figures for DFID expenditure on sector budget support are published in Statistics on International Development, copies of which are available in the Library. The relevant figures are reproduced in Table 1 alongside estimates of DFID expenditure on sector wide approaches.
| Table 1: DFID financial aid allocated to sector budget support and sector wide approaches | ||
| £000 | ||
| Sector budget support | Sector wide approaches | |
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the £8.5 billion on aid for education announced in April 2006 has been earmarked to promote education for females. [113344]
Hilary Benn: In DFID’s 2006 White Paper on International Development, “Making governance work for the poor”, we made a commitment to support special initiatives to get more girls into school. We have just published the first Progress Report of DFID’s 2005 girls’ education strategy ‘Girls’ education: towards a better future for all’ which provides more details. Copies of the report are being placed in the Library.
The UK’s £8.5 billion funding commitment to education in developing countries will mainly be used to support partner Governments with predictable funding against which they can prepare ambitious 10 year education sector plans to achieve the education millennium development goals. The plans will focus on investment in schools, including recruiting and training more teachers, getting more pupils, including girls and disadvantaged children, into and completing school and improving the quality of education. So at least half of this funding will benefit girls directly or indirectly.
The development of education sector plans is being led by the developing countries, with donors including the UK contributing. Individual allocations of the £8.5 billion, including special initiatives for girls, will be decided at country level.
Departmental Publications
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many graphic designers his Department employed for the production and publication of its (a) white papers and (b) departmental reports in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement. [113206]
Mr. Thomas: DFID does not employ graphic designers, but contracts graphic design companies or printing firms with a graphic design capacity to design its publications and reports. This includes White Papers and departmental reports. DFID has used one company on its recent White Paper published in 2006, and one company has produced the departmental report annually since 2003. DFID does not have a record of how many people were employed by these firms as graphic designers.
Departmental Studies
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which studies have been commissioned by his Department from (a) external agencies, (b) companies, (c) academics and (d) individuals in 2006. [107157]
Hilary Benn: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Energy
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to develop environmentally sustainable, cost-effective energy sources for use in the developing world. [110367]
Mr. Thomas: Improved access to reliable and affordable energy supplies and services is essential for the achievement of international development goals. The poorest countries and regions of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, have the least access to electricity and to sustainable clean fuels for cooking and heating.
DFID has been actively engaged with the EU Energy Initiative for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development (EUEI) since it was launched in 2002. This has the primary aim of improving access to affordable and sustainable energy services to the poor.
Alongside five other European Union member states, DFID is providing grant funds to an EUEI technical assistance programme, which is helping developing countries and regional organisations in Africa to prepare energy policies. In addition, DFID supported the launch in 2006 of a €220 million EU Energy Facility, funded from the 9(th) European Development Fund, to improve access to energy in rural areas, mainly in Africa.
DFID contributes to the Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP), which is managed by the World Bank on behalf of the donors. The goal of the programme is to provide energy solutions to reduce poverty, through improved access to sustainable energy services. New policies and plans for the greater use of renewable energy and improved energy efficiency in developing countries are significant aspects of the programme.
DFID is also working closely with the World Bank and the regional development banks on a new Investment Framework for Clean Energy and Development. The World Bank and other International Finance Institutions have approved or are developing their Investment Frameworks and these will be implemented in 2007. These new frameworks include measures to help countries move towards lower carbon energy sources, to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, to adapt to the effects of climate change and to access new carbon credit financing. The World Bank has accepted an offer from DFID of a technical assistance grant to help them implement actions on climate change and clean energy and we are in discussion with the other IFIs on similar support.
DFID is launching in 2007 a new five-year Energy Research Programme to improve access to energy supplies and services in support of development. This is expected to include the application of renewable energy and other sustainable technologies. This new research programme will build on earlier DFID funded work on renewable energy technologies.
Engagements
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries he has visited since 2003; and for what purposes. [113254]
Hilary Benn: The Government publish on an annual basis lists of all travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Lists covering 2003 to 2005-06 are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2006-07 will be published when it is ready.
Furniture
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent by his Department on furniture made by British firms in each year since 2000. [105041]
Mr. Thomas: DFID procures its furniture from various companies approved under the Office of Government Commerce Framework agreements. We do not maintain records of the ownership of the companies. Furniture is obtained on the basis of value for money and, for timber products, compliance with appropriate environmental standards.
Globaleq
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what acquisition of assets have been made by Globaleq since its establishment. [113199]
Mr. Thomas: Since its establishment in June 2002, Globaleq has acquired power generation and distribution assets consistent with its strategy in Africa, Asia and the Americas. The following table provides details of the acquisitions. Subsequent divestment of assets are noted.
| Company | Country | Acquisition date | Gross MW | GQ% at acquisition | Equity MW | Fuel | Notes |
| Note: MW = mega watts | |||||||
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