§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make future aid programmes to Zimbabwe conditional on respect for democracy and human rights. [118047]
§ Clare ShortGood governance and human rights are among the factors taken into account in formulating strategy in all country programmes. Our Zimbabwe country strategy published in 1999 makes clear our position in relation to Zimbabwe.
§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs concerning the suspension of aid to Zimbabwe. [118053]
§ Clare ShortI have been keeping the development programme for Zimbabwe under very close review since 1997, taking full account of other Departments views. It is the Government's view that it would not help the poor in Zimbabwe to suspend our aid programme. We are disbursing less than half the aid that our published Country Strategy Paper makes clear would be available if the Zimbabwe Government showed a commitment to better governance and economic policies that would benefit the country and improve the life of the poor of Zimbabwe.