§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what representations she has made to the European Commission in the past 12 months about improving the effectiveness and transparency of the EU aid budget; [79065]
(2) what specific steps she has taken in the past 12 months to ensure that the United Kingdom contribution to the EU aid budget has been spent effectively. [79066]
§ Mr. FoulkesIn December we published our 18 point strategy to improve EC development spending. It has been widely disseminated in the Commission and other member states. Our paper describes the specific, practical measures the Department for International Development is to take to maximise the contribution of the EC's development programmes to the international poverty eradication strategy. The Secretary of State and our officials are pursuing vigorously our strategy with the Commission and with other EC member states for redirecting EC resources to the poorest countries, and for improving the effectiveness and transparency of EU aid spending. The Secretary of State discussed these issues frequently with her European opposite numbers, most recently in Berlin on 18 March and both she and I have had a number of discussions with Members of the European Parliament on this.
§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of her budget will be channelled through the EU aid budget in the financial year 1999–2000. [79099]
§ Mr. FoulkesWe currently forecast expenditure of £750m through the EC in 1999/2000, comprising £248m through the European Development Fund, and £520m through EC budgetised programmes.
§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times she or her Minister met former European Commissioner Cresson to discuss EU aid in the past 12 months. [79064]
§ Mr. FoulkesAt no time in the last 12 months have I, or the Secretary of State met former EU Commissioner Cresson to discuss EU aid.