HC Deb 26 February 2001 vol 363 cc526-7W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the material and financial assistance her Department has given to the Government of India for specific use in Gujarat State following the recent earthquake. [149465]

Mr. Mullin

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in the House on 29 January 2001,Official Report, columns 21–22, the Department for International Development has allocated a total of £10 million to support this emergency relief effort without reducing our spending in other parts of India. The table summarises the allocation of funds spent to date.

We dispatched a 69-person search and rescue team who rescued six people and supported the Russian Ministry of Emergency for the provision of 75 search and rescue personnel who rescued 17 people. In addition we arranged for numerous relief items including tents, other shelter items, medical supplies and blankets to be transported to the region.

Our assessment and liaison team continues to work closely with the Indian authorities and the operational agencies to provide invaluable information on the remaining needs to enable appropriate allocation of the remaining funds.

the financial years (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000, and what the planned expenditure and breakdown of expenditure for 2000–01 is on (i) public opinion research, (ii) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (iii) direct mail. [149270]

Clare Short

The information is as follows:

Public Opinion Research

A study on public attitudes to development was undertaken in 1997–98 at a cost of £43,000. There was no expenditure in 1996–97 or 1998–99. A repeat survey to measure changes in public attitudes and the effects of our public education work was undertaken in 1999–2000 costing a total of £45,000.

In 2000–01 a further repeat study costing £33,000 was undertaken and a school children's survey is currently underway at a cost of £9,800.

Advertising

DFID does not have a specific advertising budget. The vast majority of advertising relates to recruitment advertising in newspapers and journals, and costs £1 million—£1.2 million annually.

Direct Mail

There was no significant expenditure on direct mail promotion of DFID materials between 1996–97 and 1999–2000. In 2000–01 our spending on direct mail promotion of DFID publications is projected at around £55,000.