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22 Oct 2008 : Column 456W—continued
| Table 2: DFID resource budget figures by division and sub-division from 2005-06 to 2010-11 | ||||||
| £000 | ||||||
| Division/subdivisions | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| Notes: 1. Centrally managed costs line includes depreciation, corporate IT systems and all budget contingency reserves for 2008-09 onwards. 2. Human Resources includes office services and costs and Overseas Pensions. 3. Europe and Donor Relations Division includes EC attribution. | ||||||
Food: Prices
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the written statement of 22 April 2008, Official Report, column 100WS, on rising food prices (international impact), how much budgetary support has been advanced; to which countries; how much his Department has spent on additional payments to date; and which countries have received such payments. [228569]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has made no advance budget support payments in support of the food crisis this year, since those countries most affected by the crisis are not currently budget support recipients. We will continue to review the need to use advance budget support payments to manage the impact of high food and fuel prices on developing countries.
Since 1 January this year, DFID has given £331.2 million of budget support to eight countries in Africa and south Asia, shown in the following table. Further budget support is likely to be made this financial year. The level of funding reflects the additional burden being placed on these countries as a result of higher food and fuel prices, and will help their governments to respond flexibly to evolving needs.
| £ million | |
| PRBS disbursed since 1 January 2008 | |
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the written statement of 22 April 2008, Official Report, column 100WS, on rising food prices (international impact), how much of the £30 million identified for support for the World Food Programme has been spent to date; on what dates such payments were made; and what quantity of food has been purchased as a result, broken down by food type. [228570]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: Details of disbursement of the additional £30 million contribution to the World Food Programme, announced on 22 April 2008, are as follows:
| Country | £ million | Date payment made | Quantity of food purchased to date (mt) | Type of food purchased to date |
| (1 )Not yet made | ||||
Middle East: Politics and Government
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in (a) the west bank and (b) the Gaza strip. [228204]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: We remain concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and continue to monitor it closely.
In Gaza, 69 per cent. of the population receive some form of food aid. Over 95 per cent. of businesses have closed and unemployment is over 45 per cent.. Health and educational services are under severe strain and the economy has been severely affected by crossing restrictions. Since the ceasefire began in June there have been some improvements. For example, projects to repair sewage treatment facilities have restarted and fuel supplies to the Gaza power plant have increased. However, the overall flow of humanitarian supplies, commercial goods and people into Gaza has only improved marginally.
In the west bank, 25 per cent. of the population is affected by food insecurity and unemployment is over 16 per cent. Due to falling incomes and continuing rises in food prices, people in the west bank now spend 56 per cent. of their income on food. Movement and access restrictions continue to hold back economic growth and to affect the daily life of ordinary Palestinians. In August, the United Nations counted 630 physical obstacles such as roadblocks and checkpoints in the west bank. This is almost 68 per cent. higher than when the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access was signed.
Sudan: Politics and Government
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Darfur. [228205]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Widespread violence continues to cause large-scale displacements and restrict humanitarian access. Across Darfur, over 270,000 have been newly displaced so far in 2008. In September, fighting between government forces and rebel groups in North Darfur displaced tens of thousands and hindered humanitarian access. In the last two weeks, militia attacks have increased in South Darfur, displacing thousands. The World Food Programme (WFP) expects that it will not be able to reach 450,000 intended beneficiaries with food aid in September.
Meanwhile, increasing numbers of humanitarian workers are subjected to targeted attacks. So far in 2008, 225 humanitarian vehicles have been hijacked, 170 humanitarian workers abducted, and 144 compounds attacked. The equivalent figures for September are 17, 15 and 21 respectively. Totals are already significantly above 2007 figures.
Distribution of rainy season non-food items has been ongoing throughout Darfur. WFP and its implementing partners continue to deliver food aid to almost 3.5 million people. Our implementing partners continue to address priority needs for IDPs in all three states in Darfur across a range of sectors.
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