Afghanistan (Hansard, 28 January 2002)

§ Mrs. Spelman
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid to Afghanistan for reconstruction will be given(a) bilaterally and (b) through the European Union. [31088]

§ Clare Short
As I announced at the Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan earlier this week in Tokyo, the UK has committed a further £200 million over the next five financial years for both reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.
5W
The European Commission (EC) has pledged euro 200 million (£125 million) for 2002. It intends to propose to the European Union's budgetary authority to provide assistance at a comparable level in the subsequent four years, totalling approximately euro 1 billion (£600 million) over the period 2002–06. The UK share of EC contributions is 20 per cent. —which is charged to the DFID budget.

§ Joan Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will report on the outcome of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Conference held in Tokyo on January 21 and 22, with particular reference to meeting the needs of Afghan women. [30413]

§ Clare Short
I refer my hon. Friend to the oral statement I made to the House this afternoon at columns 21–36.

§ Mr. Cousins
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contributions the United Kingdom(a) has made and (b) has committed itself to make to the costs of creating and supporting the interim Government of Afghanistan (i) bilaterally and (ii) through agencies of the (A) United Nations and (B) European Union. [29696]

§ Clare Short
We have set aside £20 million in this financial year to support the Interim Administration and the United Nations-led transitional recovery and rehabilitation process, while continuing to respond to humanitarian needs. This further support follows on from the £40 million of emergency humanitarian relief assistance that we have already provided to UN agencies, the Red Cross and NGOs since September 2001.
Our support to date has included £1 million to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to support peacemaking efforts and the establishment of the Afghan Interim Administration. We have also contributed $3 million (£2.075 million) to support the costs of the Interim Administration, including civil servants' salaries, through the UNDP-administered trust fund.
As I announced at the Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan earlier this week in Tokyo, the UK has committed a further £200 million ($288 million) over the next five financial years for both reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.
This pledge is in addition to the significant sums that the UK contributes to the World Bank, European Union and Asian Development bank who will also be channelling funds into Afghanistan over coming years. The European Commission has pledged £125 million for 2002, of which the UK share, which is charged to DFID's budget, is 20 per cent.