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24 Apr 2008 : Column 2214W—continued
International Development
Africa: AIDS
Mr. Caborn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent progress has been made on the educational programme in Africa to combat the spread of AIDS; and if he will make a statement. [196727]
Gillian Merron: The most significant progress that has been made on education programmes in addressing the threat posed by HIV and AIDS has been through strengthening the content of education sector plans by more explicit reference to HIV prevention through curriculum reform, teacher training, peer education, etc.
A recent survey of 34 countries in Africa showed that all of these countries have a National HIV and AIDS policy and three quarters of them have an education sector specific HIV and AIDS strategy and plan. 30 countries are training teachers to protect themselves, and all countries participating in the survey are providing some HIV prevention education at primary and/or secondary levels.
More progress is needed in the establishment of effective monitoring and evaluation procedures. The Department for International Development routinely works with partner country governments to strengthen their monitoring and evaluation systems.
Corruption: Overseas Aid
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK aid was spent on tackling corruption in (a) India, (b) Tanzania, (c) Sudan, (d) Bangladesh, (e) Pakistan, (f) Afghanistan, (g) Ethiopia, (h) Nigeria, (i) Uganda, (j) Democratic Republic of Congo, (k) Ghana, (l) Kenya, (m) Malawi, (n) Zambia, (o) Indonesia, (p) Mozambique, (q) Vietnam, (r) Iraq, (s) Nepal and (t) China in 2006-07. [199001]
Mr. Thomas: The Department for International Development has programmes to combat corruption that both directly target corruption as well those that have a broader focus on prevention and on strengthening governance. Such programmes include for example: support to strengthen the capacity, accountability and responsiveness of the state; initiatives to strengthen parliamentary oversight; programmes with civil society; and targeted support for the investigation and prosecution of corrupt activities.
Departmental bilateral expenditure on governance related programmes in 2006-07 totalled £323 million. We are unable to break this down further and provide specific statistical information on anti-corruption expenditure by country. The following table provides details of the levels of governance expenditure for the countries highlighted in the question.
| DFID bilateral governance expenditure, 2006-07 | ||
| £ million | ||
Departmental Research
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what progress has been made on his Department's new research strategy; and whether it will commence in April 2008; [197726]
(2) whether he plans to publish the findings of the in-country consultations his Department held in Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda on its new research strategy; [197728]
(3) what progress has been made towards widening the scope of his Department's education research to look at (a) post-primary education and (b) the links between education and the world of work; [197779]
(4) what progress has been made towards the development of non-medical research initiatives on (a) children's education, (b) HIV and AIDS, (c) the relationship between women's income and the survival rate of their children and (d) safer childbirth. [197782]
Mr. Thomas: The new Department for International Development research strategy 2008-13 was launched on 22 April and it, together with 10 working papers, can be found on the DFID website http://www. dfid.gov.uk/research/newresearch.asp.
The working papers provide background and detail about the research to be funded within the strategy period.
The education and health working papers contain more detail about how DFID will develop its education and non-medical health research. Future open competitions for research will call for research proposals to cover these areas.
Findings from the in-country consultations have been published and can be accessed at the following link on DFID's Research Portal:
Developing Countries: Diseases
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what responses his Department received from private companies on development of new treatments, vaccines and technologies for (a) malaria, (b) tuberculosis, (c) HIV and AIDS and (d) other diseases during the consultation on the Department's new research strategy. [197730]
Mr. Thomas: Over 600 responses were received during the web-based consultation on the new research strategy, of which 21 identified themselves as business/industry, but no further detail is available.
The development of new treatments, vaccines and technologies for (a) malaria, (b) tuberculosis, (c) HIV and AIDS and (d) other diseases were raised by many respondents. Responses to the consultation were analysed anonymously and comments cannot be attributed to individuals or organisations.
Developing Countries: Terrorism
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government have taken to provide assistance to developing countries following terrorist attacks in the last 12 months. [199409]
Mr. Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not provided emergency support to developing countries affected by terrorist attacks during the last year. Though available in theory, the scale of terrorist attacks to date has not warranted large international humanitarian responses.
More generally DFID can help to mitigate the economic and social impact of a serious attack, both on people's livelihoods and government finances, for example support for the efforts of multilateral organisations such the World Bank and United National Development Programme following the 2002 Bali bombing.
DFID can also help to reduce the threat of violence through:
Mainstream development programming, which can help developing countries to address the grievances which ultimately drive conflict and cause terrorism.
Support for conflict prevention and mediation measures, where appropriate.
Developing Countries: Transport
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the World Bank on research into low-cost transport options for poorer communities. [197729]
Mr. Thomas: Officials from the Department for International Development (DFID) discussed research relevant to low-cost transport options with the World Bank in the first quarter of this year. This topic has been incorporated into wide-ranging provision for collaborative work which falls with the following areas:
(a) DFID’s South East Asia Community Access Programme (SEACAP) designed to enhance the pro-poor content of World Bank’s programmes in the Mekong area.
(b) The World Bank’s Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Policy programme (SSATP), which will co-ordinate the Steering Group for DFID’s African Community Access programme (AFCAP)
(c) A joint programme of transport research support to be based in the Transport Unit within the World Bank’s sustainable development network in Washington; and
(d) Co-operation with the World Bank in the work of the DFID-funded global transport knowledge partnership.
Ipsos MORI
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2008, Official Report, column 149W, on Ipsos MORI, what the estimated value of the contract is through the Central Office of Information to research issues into public attitudes. [199976]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The total value of the contract with Ipsos MORI to research issues into public attitudes, contracted through COI, was £126,778 plus VAT.
Overseas Aid
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the level of fiduciary risk for UK bilateral aid to (a) India, (b) Tanzania, (c) Sudan, (d) Bangladesh, (e) Pakistan, (f) Afghanistan, (g) Ethiopia, (h) Nigeria, (i) Uganda, (j) the Democratic Republic of Congo, (k) Ghana, (l) Kenya, (m) Malawi, (n) Zambia, (o) Indonesia, (p) Mozambique, (q) Vietnam, (r) Iraq, (s) Nepal and (t) China. [199877]
Mr. Thomas: Since 2004, the Department for International Development (DFID) has conducted detailed fiduciary risk assessments in all countries where we provide poverty reduction budget support (PRBS). This is aid given to support poverty reduction programmes through partner governments' own budgets, and using partners' own financial management, procurement and accountability systems. The following table shows the most recent fiduciary risk rating in each country listed above that has received PRBS.
| Country | DFID fiduciary risk rating |
DFID has not provided any PRBS to the Federal Government of India, but we do provide sector budget support in some of our focus states where the risk rating is judged as medium. No PRBS has been provided to the Sudan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Indonesia, Iraq or China.
From 2008, DFID will as part of its country planning process conduct fiduciary risk assessments for all countries where we provide financial aid.
Overseas Aid: Expenditure
Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Government have spent on foreign aid since 1997. [200523]
Mr. Malik: Details of total UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) since 1997 are in the following table.
| UK Official Development Assistance, 1997 to 2007 | |
| £ million | |
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