HC Deb 24 February 2003 vol 400 cc280-1W
Ms Atherton

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her expenditure plans are for financial assistance for water and sanitation projects, in absolute terms and as a proportion of the Department budget; and what proportion of the Departmental budget was allocated as financial assistance for water and sanitation projects, in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2000–01. [98967]

Clare Short

In financial year 2001–02, my Department spent £87.2 million on water and sanitation related outcomes of various projects across its bilateral assistance programmes. Expenditure in 2000–01 was –90.6 million. In 2001–02, spending on water and sanitation accounted for approximately 6 per cent. of bilateral expenditure (£1,506 million). 70 per cent. of the expenditure, approximately £63 million, was spent on water and sanitation in 2001–02, being split 60:40 between urban and rural. 2001–02 was the first year in recent times that the urban sector received more support than the rural.

In terms of geographical allocation, Asia was the dominant recipient region (47 per cent. in 2001–02 and 42 per cent. in 2000–01), followed by Africa (31 per cent. and 32 per cent. respectively).

New commitments to the water and sanitation sector made during 2001–02 totalled £86.2 million.

Ms Atherton

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the Department's financial assistance for water and sanitation projects was allocated to institutional capacity and human resources in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02; and what proportion will be allocated in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04. [98976]

Clare Short

My Department's expenditure on water supply and sanitation has remained broadly static between 2000–02, at approximately £63 million, which accounts for 70 per cent. of the total water sector expenditure. Of that, 60 per cent. was allocated to urban and 40 per cent. to rural water and sanitation programmes. Total expenditure in the water sector was £90.6 million in 2000–01 and £87.2 million in 2001–02. Figures are not yet available for 2002–03. New commitments to the water and sanitation sector made during 2001–02 totalled £86.2 million.

We are not able to disaggregate expenditure data to determine precise allocation to specific activities within the water supply and sanitation sector. However the underpinning premise of all our water and sanitation programmes is to build and strengthen institutional capacity and human resource capacity in developing countries.

In addition to our work through our Country programmes, our Knowledge and Research (KAR) programme works to encourage our engagement with Southern institutions to encourage capacity building of formal and informal poor urban communities to improve local water and sanitation services.

Additionally, through our resource centres, OASIS and WELL, my Department is actively engaging with developing countries and their supporting institutions to build human resource capacity within the water and sanitation sector.