HC Deb 03 November 2003 vol 412 cc484-5W
Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the United Kingdom has contributed to Afghanistan in each year since 2000; and wt at percentage of these amounts has gone towards(a) reconstruction, (b) military purposes and (c) emergency aid in each year. [133853]

Hilary Benn

Since 2000 the UK has provided 687 million to Afghanistan. Distinctions between reconstruction or development assistance, and emergency or humanitarian assistance are problematic, especially in situations like Afghanistan after the initial emergency in 2001 was over. For example, assistance managed by our Humanitarian Affairs department to support re-opening of schools or the immunisation of children, clearly has an immediate effect as well as contributing to longer-term development.

In the financial year 2000–2001 £5 million was spent on humanitarian assistance. There was no spend for military or reconstruction work.

In financial year 2001–2002 out of £265 million provided by the UK, £45 million (17 per cent.) was spent on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. Most of this went to humanitarian needs because our reconstruction effort was just beginning. £220 million (83 per cent.) was spent on military operations.

In financial year 2002–2003 the UK contributed a total of £396 million. £86 million (21 per cent.) was spent on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. This was shared roughly equally between humanitarian assistance and reconstruction. £310 million (79 per cent.) towards supporting military operations in Afghanistan.

In the current financial year the UK, to date, have provided £26 million for humanitarian assistance and reconstruction. The great majority of these funds have focused on reconstruction. This years figures for expenditure in support of military operations in Afghanistan will be published in the Winter Supplementary Estimates.

Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance is being provided to train Afghan women as(a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) other medical professionals; in what parts of Afghanistan such assistance is being provided; what resources have been committed in support of such training; and over what time period. [134570]

Hilary Benn

The Department for International Development has provided some technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in Afghanistan but is not directly involved in the training of medical professionals.

The Afghanistan. Ministry of Health has estimated a budget of $173 million to implement several national health programme; this year. More than $130 million has been already committed by donors, including the European Community, to which DFID contributes 19 per cent., for these programmes. Most of these programmes are nationwide. These programmes incorporate training components including the training of women. However, a breakdown showing training and resources targeted specifically at women is not currently available.