HC Deb 05 July 2000 vol 353 c223W
13. Mr. Pond

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what help her Department is giving to the Russian Government to alleviate poverty. [127750]

Clare Short

We expect to spend around £28 million on bilateral assistance to Russia in the current financial year. This is additional to the UK share of the European Commission's Tacis programme (our contribution to which is on average £12 million per annum) and as a shareholder of the World bank and EBRD. Our aim is to support the process of transition to a democracy and a market economy in a way which protects the people—particularly the poorest—during the transition and brings real benefits to the society.

The transition is far from complete and the level of poverty is very great. We are currently reviewing our programmes.

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