HC Deb 17 December 2003 vol 415 c136WS
The Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn)

I have today laid before both Houses a Departmental Minute on a £400,000 contingent liability which the Department for International Department has entered into. Under this arrangement DFID will extend its guarantee on a commercial loan to the Day Chocolate Company, a fair trade company partly owned by the Kuapa Kokoo cocoa co-operative. This marketing channel provides co-operative members with direct benefits in the form of fair prices and community level projects. This is the first use of the power to provide financial assistance by way of a guarantee under the International Development Act 2002.