HL Deb 13 April 1999 vol 599 cc105-6WA
Lord McNair

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made in preparing a country strategy paper with regard to business in Sudan. [HL1806]

Baroness Amos

Country strategy papers are only prepared for countries where we provide development assistance. We do not have a development assistance programme with Sudan. We do provide large amounts of humanitarian aid which is required as a result of the devastation caused by the continuing war.

Lord McNair

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many students from Sudan were in receipt of Department for International Development awards to study in Britain annually since 1989. [HL1807]

Baroness Amos

The following table shows the number of Sudanese who studied in the UK on technical co-operation training awards funded by the Overseas Development Administration (DFID's predecessor) since 1989:

Financial Year Trainees
1989–90 151
1990–91 72
1991–92 2

Britain's development assistance programme to Sudan was closed in January 1991. No new awards have been made since then. Awards have been made to Sudan under Chevening, an FCO scheme.

Lord McNair

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of the recent report by Medecins Sans Frontières criticising Operation Lifeline Sudan procedures and their resultant diversion of food aid by combatants in southern Sudan; and whether they will place a copy of this report in the Library of the House. [HL1804]

Baroness Amos

Medecins Sans Frontières (MSF) did not produce such a report. There were a number of briefings, which we will place under a single cover in the Library of the House. MSF's concerns about food diversion in Ajeip reflect our own. We have taken them up at the highest level with the UN and continue to press for action to improve targeting of food aid and stop diversions.