§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her Department's budget will be made available to UK-based non-governmental organisations, in(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01 and (d) 2001–02. [57610]
§ Clare ShortIn 1998–99 about 6 per cent. of the Department's bilateral aid programme budget will be channelled directly through non-governmental (NGOs) and civil society organisations by means of the Joint Funding Scheme and support for Voluntary Service Overseas. NGOs are also contracted by the Department for International Development (DFID) to deliver projects within country programmes; these arrangements are handled within regional programme budgets, and it is not possible to give a total figure.
DFID's annual resource allocation exercise, which is now under-way will determine future allocations within the aid programme. The outcome of this exercise will be reported in the Departmental Report in April 1999.