HC Deb 30 June 2003 vol 408 cc25-6W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will list the targets the Department for International Development set for(a) non-departmental public bodies, (b) non-governmental organisations, (c) consular offices, (d) research bodies and (e) agencies in (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2001–02 and (iii) 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [122565]

Hilary Benn

DFID has not set any formal targets for non-governmental organisations, research bodies, non-departmental public bodies or agencies in the years mentioned. Consular offices are the responsibly of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

However, when we work with or fund any such organisations we agree the outcomes we expect them to deliver and assess their performance accordingly. We have entered into a number of formal Partnership Programme Agreements with non-governmental organisations, for example. These are based on agreed outcomes which contribute to DFID's overall objectives.

In our 2001–04 Public Service Agreement we set a target for CDC (of which the Secretary of State for International Development is the sole shareholder). This required CDC to make at least 70 per cent. of its new investments in poor developing countries and 50 per cent. of its new investments in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. Alongside this target, DFID established in 1999 an Investment Policy to which CDC Group plc must work. This involves using its capital so as to maximize the creation and long-term growth of viable businesses in poorer developing countries through responsible investment and by mobilising private finance.

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