§ Vera BairdTo ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development whether UK development aid to Burma is made conditional upon specific policies or course of conduct by the Burmese Government. [130629]
Mr. Gareth ThomasUK aid for the Burmese poor addresses priority humanitarian and other critical needs, including prevention of HIV/AIDS. UK aid is provided within the European Union (EU) Common Position on Burma, which states that "… Non humanitarian aid or development, programmes shall be suspended …" except those "projects and programmes which should be, as far as possible, defined in consultation with democratic groups, including the National League for Democracy, and run with their involvement
in support of human rights and democracy,in support of poverty alleviation and, in particular, of the provision of basic needs for the poorest section of the population, in the context of decentralised cooperation through local civilian authorities and non-governmental organisations,in support of health and basic education through non-governmental organisations.We require partners to institute suitable mechanisms to ensure that UK aid is used in a transparent and accountable manner. Monitoring and evaluation systems have to be set up by recipients of UK aid, and such systems prevent any part of it going to the regime.
§ Vera BairdTo ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what the(a) extent and (b) nature is of Government development aid to Burma; and what plans there are to change the amount and nature of aid. [130631]
Mr. Gareth ThomasIn the current financial year 2003–04, UK aid for poor Burmese people is likely to be about £4 million, addressing needs in the areas of health, HIV/AIDS and support to refugees. Options for future aid are currently being assessed through the preparation of a new country plan.
§ Vera BairdTo ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what proportion of UK development aid to Burma is channelled through the Burmese(a) Government and (b) Government agencies. [130632]
Mr. Gareth ThomasUK aid for poor Burmese people is channelled through United Nations (UN) agencies and international and local non-governmental organisations. In 2003, some of the funding for the UN-led programme to tackle HIV/AIDS, to which the UK
1004Wis the largest contributor, will be spent on activities delivered through the National AIDS Programme. It is not yet possible to say what proportion of UK aid will be used in this way. The UN is required to monitor these expenditures rigorously to ensure that they are used for the intended purposes in a transparent and accountable manner.