South Africa (Hansard, 19 December 2002)

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department is giving in 2002–03 to provide safe water for the people of South Africa; and if she will make a statement. [87869]

§ Clare Short
My Department anticipates spending £1.36 million on water and sanitation in South Africa in 2002–03. A new £11.54 million DFID support programme started in September 2002. The programme will run for five years, with an anticipated spend in 2003–04 of £2.9 million.
In addition, we contribute around £2.7 million per year to EU water and sanitation programmes in South Africa.

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the US Aid Padco Report on water privatisation in South Africa. [87870]

§ Clare Short
I have made no assessment of the report. The report was commissioned by the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Unit, a body set up by, and accountable to, the South African Department of Provincial and Local Government, using funding from USAID. It is part of a broad series of small research projects to help inform the Government of South Africa's policy thinking around PPPs.

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had on water privatisation in South Africa with(a) the South African Municipal Workers Union and (b) non-governmental organisations working in the country. [87871]

§ Clare Short
My Department has not engaged in bilateral discussions on the subject of water privatisation with either the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) or NGOs. However, SAMWU and the NGO community are represented on both the Water Sector Leadership Group (WSLG) and the Steering Committee for the SA Government's Masibambane water and sanitation programme. My Department is also represented on both committees. The subject of water privatisation has on occasions been discussed at both the Masibambane meetings and WSLG.