§ Hugh BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment the Government have made of the impact of reducing aid to South Africa.[146162]
§ Hilary BennSouth Africa is not dependent on financial transfers from international donors—aid from all donors represents less than 1 per cent. of the406W country's annual budget. Donors' contribution to development in South Africa is in the form of technical assistance to build capacity to develop and implement pro-poor policies. DFID has contributed more than £200 million in technical assistance to South Africa in the 10 years since the democratic transition there. Figures for annual spending since 1998–99 and plans up to 2005–06 are shown as follows. As shown, and in line with our overall strategy on assistance to middle income countries, we are planning a reduction in planned expenditure for the year beginning April 2005. We are discussing with the South African government how to manage this. We will continue to maintain a substantial programme there in recognition of the poverty problems inherited from the apartheid period, the growing spread of HIV/AIDS, and the critical importance of successful transition in South Africa for the prospects of sub-Saharan Africa as a whole.
DFID-SA bilateral spending on Southern Africa MICs £ millions South Africa Botswana Namibia Swaziland Total 1998–99 28.9 3.3 3.9 3.1 39.1 1999–2000 29.6 3.0 3.6 3.1 39.3 2000–01 30.1 2.5 2.7 1.6 37.0 2001–02 25.5 2.0 2.0 1.1 30.6 2002–03 36.4 1.1 2.2 0.8 40.5 Source:
DFID (2003) Statistics on International Development 1998–99 to 2002–03. Table 7.1.
Future framework allocation Jiff Southern African MICs £ million 2003–04 35 2004–05 35 2005–06 25