§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the average interval between commitment and disbursal of European development assistance; and how this compares with practice in the United Kingdom. [HL4806]
§ Baroness AmosAccording to European Commission figures, the average interval between commitment and disbursal of European development assistance in calendar years 1995 to 1999 was four and a half years. Comparable figures for the UK are not available without disproportionate cost. As an indication of practice in the UK, in financial years 1997 to 1999 funds were disbursed within a year of commitment for 83 per cent of projects.