HC Deb 01 December 1993 vol 233 cc570-1W
Mr. Tom Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the outside evaluators used to study the effectiveness of particular aspects of the United Kingdom's aid programme in the last three years.

Mr. Goodlad

The ODA's evaluation department's reports are available and are listed in our "Catalogue of Evaluation Studies", an updated copy of which will shortly be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Each report lists the outside evaluators used.

Mr. Tom Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criticism he has received over the past three years from outside evaluators used to study the overall effectiveness of the United Kingdom aid programme; and what was the action taken.

Mr. Goodlad

The ODA's evaluation department undertakes its regular evaluation programme on a project-by-project basis, by sector or theme, rather than attempting to study overall effectiveness. Specific action taken in response to recent reports includes the preparation of a guidance paper on forestry projects in response to the findings of six forestry evaluations; and the convening of a seminar by the Aga Khan Foundation on Promoting Quality Education in the Third World as a result of a joint evaluation of the schools improvement programme which had been co-funded by ODA.

Mr. Tom Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was paid in each of the last two years to outside evaluators of the United Kingdom's aid programme.

Mr. Goodlad

In 1991–92 and 1992–93, the ODA's evaluation department paid £333,944 and £511,404 respectively to external evaluators.

Mr. Tom Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which 20 companies have been the leading indirect beneficiaries of spending within the aid and trade provision since its inception in 1978; and what percentage of total ATP spending each has attracted.

Mr. Goodlad

The 20 leading main contractors gaining business under the aid and trade provision since its inception in 1978 are as follows:

Company Percentage of total ATP commitments since 1978
1 Balfour Beatty 120.95
2 GEC 7.64
3 Davy 5.89
4 Biwater 4.02
5 Amec International 4.02
6 Foster Wheeler 3.69
7 Snamprogetti 3.23
8 Northern Engineering Industries 3.16
9 John Brown Engineering 2.56
10 Siemens-Plessey 2.36
11 Phillips Radio 2.33
12 Marconi 1.84
13 Babcock 1.76
14 TecQuipment International 1.59
15 Coppee UK 1.50
16 John Laing 1.50
17 STC 1.25
18 Boving 1.17
19 AWD 1.16
20 Communication Supplies Ltd. 1.05
1 76 per cent. of Balfour Beatty's share (i.e. 16.01 per cent. to total ATP commitments since 1978) are accounted for by a joint venture with Cementation Ltd.

Much work under these contractors is carried out by numerous subcontractors. Information on the allocation of total ATP spending by subcontractor would be disproportionately time consuming to collect centrally.