§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid is being 695W provided to each country in southern Africa this year (a) through her Department's bilateral aid budget and (b) via the EU aid budget. [55879]
§ Clare ShortDFID plans to spend £40 million this year through its bilateral programme for the five countries of the Southern African Customs Union (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland). This will be spent partly on activities in individual countries, and partly on regional activities covering several countries.
The EU does not publish expected annual disbursement figures for the current year. In 2001, the EU spent 5 million euro in Botswana, 12 million euro in Lesotho, 11 million euro in Namibia, 112 million euro in South Africa and 7 million euro in Swaziland. The UK contributes 19 per cent. of the EU's spending in South Africa (which is from the EU budget), and 12.7 per cent. of the EU spending in the other four countries (which is from the European Development Fund).
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what actions her Department is taking to prevent the occurrence of famine in southern Africa this year. [55893]
§ Clare ShortWe have provided £13 million for feeding programmes in Malawi and Zimbabwe. We are in contact with the World Food Programme who, once their assessments in the countries affected are completed, will confirm regional needs in early June.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the possibility of famine in southern Africa this year. [55899]
§ Clare ShortWe have been monitoring food shortages in the region since September 2001. Six countries in southern Africa will not produce sufficient maize to meet their requirements this year. Localised food shortages are likely to occur as household stocks run out.