§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British High Commission in Zimbabwe last visited final recipients of food aid delivered through the UK's bilateral aid programme; and if he will make a statement. [135208]
§ Mr. MullinThe Department for International Development (DFID) is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the food aid which is part of the UK's bilateral aid programme for Zimbabwe. DFID staff are in very close contact with United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and receive regular reports from those who are responsible for delivering food aid. DFID and High Commission staff also make regular field visits as part of this process. A senior London-based DFID official visited a feeding scheme between 20 and 23 October 2003, and High Commission staff and a senior visiting FCO official plan to visit another scheme later this month.