HC Deb 03 December 1993 vol 233 cc844-5W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy towards aids projects to Kenya; and if he will list the projects and the amount of financial help given as of 22 November.

Mr. Goodlad

At the consultative group meeting on 22 and 23 November Britain pledged programme aid grants up to a possible £15 million in support of Kenya's economic recovery. This new assistance acknowledges the economic and political reforms undertaken since November 1991 and will help support the further economic reform programme to be agreed with the World bank and the International Monetary Fund.

The first £5 million will be made available when spending arrangements have been agreed: the further £10 million will be dependent on a satisfactory review by the IMF in mid-1994 of the new economic reform agenda, and the further development of an overall acceptable political environment. We will be looking particularly for effective action to improve open and accountable government including action to deal with corruption, to reduce tribal tensions and strengthen law and order in the affected areas, and to enhance press freedom.

Our longer-term development assistance programme continues; provisional bilateral expenditure for 1992–93 was over £32 million. I have placed a list of current projects, involving financial assistance and know-how in the Libraries of the House.

Forward to