§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her proposed budget is for(a) bilateral development assistance and (b) development assistance through the EU to Egypt in the financial years (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03. [147886]
§ Mr. Mullin(a) Discussions on a new Aid Framework for the next three years, in the light of the spending review, have yet to be concluded. The current figure for bilateral development assistance to Egypt in 2001–02 is £4.6 million.
(b) The EC provides a significant amount of development assistance to Egypt mainly through its Mediterranean Assistance (MEDA) programme. The latest MEDA regulation for 2000–06 was agreed last year but the country allocations for 2001–02 and 2002–03 have yet to be decided. The UK's contribution to the new MEDA programme is estimated to be about 19 per cent.