HC Deb 16 December 2003 vol 415 cc828-9W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the expenditure allocated to each programme in middle income countries prior to his written statement to the House of 6 November 2003,Official Report, columns 41–43WS. [143268]

Hilary Benn

DFID's internal resource allocation process allocates funds to many middle income countries (MICs) on a regional basis only. Individual country expenditure plans within these regions are flexible and are managed collectively within the overall budget. The table shows indicative figures for the amount we were planning to spend on middle income country programmes within these regional budget lines and excludes any multi-country programmes.

partner countries and other donors. They will be embodied in the annual revision of DFID's Aid Framework, which is expected to be completed over the next two months.

Annabelle Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received concerning the UK Government's performance in meeting the UN's international development aid target as a proportion of gross national product. [142725]

Hilary Benn

Representations have been received on this subject from a wide range of correspondents. Since 1997. the UK's level of official development assistance has increased in real terms by 93 per cent. It currently stands at 0.33 per cent. of Gross National Income for this financial year, and will rise to 0.4 per cent. in 2005–06, exceeding the EU target of 0.39 per cent. for member states, and more than double the current G7 average of 0.19 per cent. The UK remains committed to the UN target of 0.7 per cent. oda/GNI and to meeting the Millennium Development Goals.