§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if he will list the projects(a) initiated, (b) funded (i) partially and (ii) fully and (c) run by his Department since 1997 in Equatorial Guinea; and if he will make a statement; [187266]
(2) how much (a) monetary aid and (b) aid in kind his Department has (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to Equatorial Guinea per annum since 1998; and if he will make a statement. [187265]
Mr. Gareth ThomasDFID does not have a significant bilateral programme partnership with Equatorial Guinea, but does provide a Small Grants Scheme (SGS) fund co-ordinated at the British High Commission in Yaounde, Cameroon. This fund supports non-governmental and civil society organisation projects which are in line with DFID's development objectives.
The Small Grants Scheme has funded eight such projects in Equatorial Guinea since 1997, with a combined value of £53,372. Two projects supported community health centres; four projects provided water and sanitation and one assisted livelihoods work in palm oil production. The SGS also supported the studies of two students from Equatorial Guinea.
Of the official development assistance given to Equatorial Guinea through the European Community, the UK's share was £0.2 million in 1998, £0.1 million in 1999, £0.3 million in 2000, and £0.3 million in 2001. Figures for 2003–04 are currently unavailable.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the economic and political developments in Equatorial Guinea since 1998; and if he will make a statement. [187267]
Mr. Gareth ThomasDFID has no significant development partnership with Equatorial Guinea and so makes no formal assessment of economic and political developments. However, DFID does support the EU Declaration of 17 June which states that the Government of Equatorial Guinea must adhere to democratic principles in an internationally accepted manner. HM Government continues to monitor the situation.