§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the current aid given by the United Kingdom to(a) East Timor and (b) West Timor. [138817]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe bulk of the UK's current development assistance to East Timor is channelled through Trust Funds established by the United Nations, for the transitional administration, and the World bank, for reconstruction and development. We will contribute a total of £5.5 million to the Trust Funds this financial year. In addition we are supporting a Human Resource Development programme implemented by Oxfam, which works with local NGOs and civil society groups.
During 1999–2000 we gave more than £6.1 million through UN agencies and NGOs as emergency support for East Timor and for those refugees who crossed the border into West Timor.
International agencies have currently withdrawn their staff from West Timor, following the killing by militias of three UNHCR workers on 6 September. We are pressing the Indonesian Government to restore security in West Timor by disbanding and disarming the militias. When this has been done, and international agencies resume their operations, we will consider what further 267W support we might offer to ensure that a census of those refugees remaining in West Timor is carried out, and that those wishing to return to East Timor are able to do so.
More widely, our programme in Indonesia in 2000–01 is expected to be around £7.8 million and will support civil society "safety net" programmes, work to introduce more equitable and sustainable forest management, a contribution to the "Governance Partnership", and support for Trades Union development.