Water and Sanitation

HC Deb 05 May 2004 vol 420 cc1598-600W

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what analysis he has made of the implications of the World Bank Report, Global Development Finance 2004 for(a) public and (b) private financing of water and sanitation infrastructure in developing countries, and if he will ensure that his Department's budget for 2005 to 2008 provides the UK's full share of the increases in public financing indicated as necessary by that report. [170036]

Mr. Gareth Thomas

The Department for International Development (DFID) endeavours to consider all of the latest information on the world economy and development finance, including the World Bank's Global Development Finance 2004. This information informs DFID policies and the methods that it uses to provide funding to developing countries, including for the water and sanitation sector. It also informs the budgeting process, and will therefore be considered in relation to DFID's budget for 2005 to 2008.