HC Deb 05 June 2000 vol 351 cc88-9W
Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to what extent the supply of arms to the Sierra Leone police and army is funded by her Department. [123971]

Clare Short

None of the arms supplied have been funded by my Department.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid programmes her Department is currently funding in Sierra Leone. [123924]

Clare Short

DFID has allocated resources in support of the following projects in Sierra Leone:

Support to the Government of Sierra Leone's National Programme for Disarmament, Demobilisation and ReintegrationEmergency support to Lungi Demobilisation CampSecurity Sector Project (SILSEP)Support to the Commonwealth Police Development Taskforce (includes Police Humanitarian Fund and Public Order support)Provision of an Inspector General of PoliceMilitary Reintegration Plan (MRP)Commonwealth Community Safety and Security ProjectSupport to Civil Society (Campaign for Good Governance)Support for the return of Paramount ChiefsLaw Development Project (including Legal Draftsman)Media Development ProjectGovernance Assistance Programme: managed by British CouncilSupport to the President's OfficeHumanitarian Relief and reconstructionBudgetary Support for essential services/repayment of debtsProvision of a ferryDFID is also a significant contributor to the programmes of the World Bank, African Development Bank, European Commission and United Nations.
Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the World Food Programme concerning farming and food security in Sierra Leone. [124056]

Clare Short

Discussions were held with World Food Programme representatives during a recent visit to Sierra Leone by humanitarian specialists from my Department. They established that there were adequate food stocks available within the country to cope with current needs. Hunger and cases of malnutrition have been reported some two months ahead of the usual pattern. The situation is particularly bad in rebel-held areas of the north and east where food stocks have been severely depleted through looting. Humanitarian agencies are constrained from assisting until access becomes possible.