§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her Department's budget for 1997–98 was spent on technical assistance. [69478]
§ Clare ShortIn 1997–98 DFID spent £676 million on technical co-operation (comprising capital-related TC, stand alone TC, grants and other aid in kind). This represented 65 per cent. of the Department for International Development's bilateral programme and 33 per cent. of total expenditure.
§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the technical assistance programmes that her Department funded in 1997–98. [69477]
§ Clare ShortTechnical co-operation expenditure in 1997–98 was allocated regionally as follows:
33W
Country £ million Percentage Africa 197 29 of which, South of the Sahara 186 28 America 62 9 Asia 173 26 Europe 87 13 Pacific 5 1 Non-region specific 152 22 Total 676 100 Technical co-operation (TC) currently comprises expenditure on capital-related TC, stand alone TC, grants and other aid in kind as follows:
- personnel
- training and scholarships
- knowledge generation (including technology development and research)
- support to the development work of the UK and international voluntary organisations
- grants to the British Council and for other development work by the UK institutions
- non-emergency appeals through multilateral agencies
- British Partnership and Heads of Mission Gift schemes
- funding of land and geological surveys in developing countries
- provision of books, equipment and other supplies in support of TC
- funding of evaluation of aid activities
- cost of certain pensions and related payments where the UK has taken over responsibility from the governments of developing countries.