§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on how much aid has been given to the British Overseas Territories in each year since 1997. [46985]
§ Hilary BennThe Government's assistance to the Overseas Territories has declined gradually from £52.6 million in 1997–98, when the Montserrat volcanic crisis was at its height, to £39.6 million in 2000–01. The British Virgin Islands graduated last year from the need for our support; and programmes in Anguilla and Turks and Caicos Islands are now limited to technical assistance. Financial aid, however, continues to be provided for both St Helena and Montserrat. Our ultimate goal, which is shared by the Overseas Territories, is to increase local self-sufficiency to levels where our assistance is no longer required.