§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 12 January,Official Report, column 86, which programmes will have a lower priority as a result of her policy to give programmes to combat poverty a higher priority; and what reductions in funding these programmes will receive. [24087]
§ Clare ShortThe final allocation of our resources between programmes for 1998–99 and subsequent years is currently being considered. Priority will be given to interventions which combat poverty. The shift in spending priorities will be detailed in our annual report which we expect to publish next month.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 12 January,Official Report, column 86, what measures she proposes to prevent aid being used for military purchases from countries other than the United Kingdom. [24088]
§ Clare ShortDepartment for International Development funding for development projects overseas is subject to existing detailed and stringent procedures involving regular and careful review at the design, implementation and evaluation stages to ensure that they fully meet the developmental purpose for which they are604W intended, as required in the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980, and are not used for inappropriate military or other purposes.
As I made clear in my answer of 12 January 1998, there is not and will not be any link between aid and sales of British arms equipment.