§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian situation in East Timor; what financial support her Department provides to East Timor; and which organisations her Department supports that work in East Timor. [78705]
§ Clare ShortAn assessment of the Humanitarian situation in East Timor is included in East Timor's National Development Plan, which was described in my answer to the hon. Member's previous question. Full details of my Department's financial commitments to East Timor between 1999 and 2005 are given in the following table:
£ Activity Commitment 1999–2005 Disbursed United Nations: 1999 ballot 800,000 800,000 Humanitarian and Emergency Relief 6,500,000 6,500,000 United Nations Transitional Administration 4,500,000 4,500,000 United Nations: Support for 2001 Elections 500,000 500,000 World Bank Trust Fund (infrastructure) 8,000,000 8,000,000 Support for Developing the National Development Plan (NDP) 300,000 ( NDP Implementation 2002–05 12,000,000 4,000,000 OXFAM: Human Resource Development 1,890,000 590,000 Civil Society and International NGOs 67,831 25,809 Local Civil Society Organisations 450,000 94,579 UK share of European Commission Expenditure, 1999–20051 19,728,000 14,200,000 Total 54,735,831 39,210,388 1 Estimated UK attribution at 19 per cent. of EC expenditure in East Timor
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on East Timor since its establishment as an independent sovereign state. [78714]
§ Clare ShortNewly independent East Timor faces a number of challenges. The Government have prepared an excellent National Development Plan (NDP), which describes how these challenges will be addressed. The new nation, however, lacks the financial and technical resources to implement the Plan. Until revenues from offshore oil and gas exploitation come on stream, expected to be in 2006–07, it will he reliant upon financial and technical support from the international community.
172WDonors have responded well and the NDP is fully financed for the next three years. It is only five months since independence and too early to judge the impact of the NDP. Initial activities have, however, started and Government, together with donors, will be reviewing progress later this month.
The UK contribution to the international effort on East Timor's development is described in my replies to the hon. Member's other questions on East Timor.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department is giving to East Timor in 2002–03. [78716]
§ Clare ShortThis year my Department will provide grants worth £6.5 million to East Timor. The bulk of these funds, £4 million, is to help the Government of East Timor implement its National Development Plan. The balance comprises residual commitments to UN and World Bank Trust Funds established before Independence, plus £500,000 to support the activities of international and local Non-Governmental Organisations, including OXFAM.
In addition a proportion of the costs of the European Union assistance programme will be attributed to DFID, but it is too early to determine how much this will be in 2002–03.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of(a) the health situation, (b) the education situation, (c) the employment situation and (d) poverty alleviation in East Timor. [78717]
§ Clare ShortMy Department, alongside the World bank and the United Nations, has provided technical advice to the Government of East Timor to help them develop their National Development Plan (NDP). The plan includes a full analysis of the social and economic challenges facing the new nation, including health, education, employment and poverty, and contains the Government's proposals for addressing these. Donors and the international community have commended East Timor on the quality of the plan.
Donors have pledged sufficient funds to fully implement scheduled NDP activities for the next three years. DFID has contributed £4 million to the NDP this year and expects to contribute a similar amount in each of the next two years.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to meet the Government of East Timor. [78720]
§ Clare ShortI met the Prime Minister of East Timor, Dr. Alkatiri, on 26 March this year, and Dr. Horta, the Foreign Minister, on 12 June. I have no further plans to meet members of the Government of East Timor in the current year.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with Christian Solidarity Worldwide concerning East Timor. [78971]
§ Clare ShortMy Department has had no discussions with Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), nor have we received any proposals from them. The British embassy in Dili has had informal contacts with CSW.