§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she has offered to the President of Sierra Leone to ensure the provision of basic services in the country. [70876]
§ Clare shortThis year we plan to provide around £40 million of development assistance to Sierra Leone, of which some £10 million is in the form of direct budgetary support, in part to help meet social sector expenditure. When I met President Kabbah last month, I indicated that the UK was prepared to make a 10-year commitment to maintain a high level of support to Sierra Leone, so long as the Government remained firmly committed to raising standards of governance. Tackling corruption, thereby ensuring resources (including those going to health and education) were no longer wasted, would be a tangible indicator of this commitment.