Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department'swork towards poverty reduction in India. [144419]Hilary Benn: DFID provided £161 million of bilateral development assistance to India in 2002-3. In the New Delhi Declaration ofJanuary 2002 the Prime Minister looked forward to expenditure of over £300 million.Our programme helps Government deliver pro-poor policies and services. We are working closely with four focus states committed topoverty reduction, including on their programmes of fiscal and public sector reform, increasing access to basic health, education,and urban services for the poor and empowerment of the marginalised We also support the efforts of the Union Government and civilsociety in these areas nationwide.