§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what account he takes of the domestic budget priorities of the Zimbabwe Government when assessing humanitarian aid to the country. [161488]
§ Hilary BennThere is an internationally agreed process through which the Government of Zimbabwe and the Office of the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator agree annually a "Consolidated Appeal" in consultation with all other humanitarian stakeholders. The humanitarian appeal takes account of what the Government of Zimbabwe plans and is reasonably expected to do within its own resources. But we have not held back our assistance because of clearly poor policies of the Government of Zimbabwe, including on budget376W allocation. To do so would be to punish poor and vulnerable citizens of Zimbabwe for the actions of a Government whose legitimacy is questioned.
DFID has supported those elements of the Consolidated Appeal that provide humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable members of Zimbabwean society. The efficiency of the response is often hindered by the lack of transparency surrounding Government plans and programmes—particularly in the case of the State monopoly Grain Marketing Board. DFID, through the UN and with our development partners, continues to advocate for greater transparency on state spending from the Government of Zimbabwe.