HC Deb 19 December 2002 vol 396 cc905-6W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance her Department is providing in 2002–03 to(a) Bolivia, (b) Pakistan and (c) India in support of policy reforms and poverty reduction measures. [67484]

Clare Short

The information is as follows:

Bolivia

We have allocated some £10 million for our total bilateral development assistance programme for 2002–03 in Bolivia. Additionally, Bolivia will benefit from DFID funds contributed to multilateral organisations such as the World bank and IADB, through grants to civil society organisations. The EC is providing £80.7 million for 2002–06, of which DFID's share is around 19 per cent.

We have now moved away from supporting discrete bilateral projects to support for government-led policy reforms within the context of the Bolivian poverty reduction strategy, concentrating on adding value to the international community's support to Bolivia's development effort. We are focusing our support in two areas—the integration of economic and social policy, recognising the key role of the informal economy for poor people's livelihoods, and enhancing social inclusion and participation in political processes within a more accountable and transparent institutional framework.

India

DFID has allocated £230 million of development assistance to India in financial year 2002–03. The EC is providing £17.9 million in 2002–03, of which DFID's share is around 19 per cent.

Our development programme in India, where on in three of the world's poor live, is aimed at helping Government, at both national and state level, to deliver pro-poor policies and services. We are working closely with four partner states committed to poverty reduction, including on their programmes of fiscal and public service reform.

We are also working on increasing access to basic health, education, and water and sanitation services for the poor, on promoting better management of the natural and physical environment, and on promoting greater empowerment of the poor, especially women and the marginalised.

Pakistan

DFID has allocated £60 million of development assistance to Pakistan in financial year 2002–03, of which £40 million is financial aid. £105.7 million is being provided by the EC for 2002£06, again with DFID's share being around 19 per cent.

We are committed to supporting Pakistan's economic and social development for the long haul. The ultimate aim is the reduction of poverty as set out in the Government of Pakistan's interim poverty reduction strategy paper.

DFID's bilateral programme is focused on three objectives: creating the economic conditions for poverty reduction; improving health outcomes for poor people and improving education outcomes for poor people.

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