HC Deb 24 January 2000 vol 343 cc73-4W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what has been the total cost of the humanitarian programme in Kosovo since the beginning of the conflict; and how much has been disbursed in(a) cash and (b) in materials and products. [105689]

Clare Short

My Department has committed £100 million to the humanitarian and rehabilitation programme in Kosovo since March 1999. Direct procurement of goods and equipment by the Department amounts to £40 million. Specific contributions to international organisations for the purchase of goods and equipment amount to £5 million. The balance of £55 million has been committed to a range of programmes through international agencies, international and local NGOs, commercial contractors and the DFID Field Offices in Pristina, Skopje, and Tirana. The vast majority of these programmes involve some procurement of goods and equipment, but information on the precise breakdown of programmes between goods and other expenditure is not readily available.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the performance of the United Nations mission in Kosovo. [106453]

Mr. Foulkes

United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) face a daunting and complex task in implementing SCR 1244.

The range of challenges includes meeting humanitarian needs over the winter, setting up basic services in health and education, establishing the rule of law, and putting a system of revenue collection in place. They are also undertaking voter registration in order to hold elections as soon as feasible. These and other tasks have at times been hampered because human and financial inputs have been slow to mobilise. But the Mission is progressively doing a good job and has our support.