Written question asked by Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom (Conservative) on Wednesday, 23 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 April 2005. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 April 2005 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her written Ministerial statement of 22nd March, Official Report, columns 62-3WS, on economic partnership agreements, whether she has earmarked specific UK funds to be made available via the EU to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to enable them to benefit from trade reforms.

Answer: Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her written ministerial statement of 22 March 2005, Official Report, columns 62-3WS, on economic partnership agreements, whether she has earmarked specific UK funds to be made available via the EU to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to enable them to benefit from trade reforms. [224137] Ms Hewitt: [holding answer 4 April 2005]: The UK cannot specifically earmark funds provided through the EU for the ACP. However the UK, through DFID's development assistance programmes, is continuing to make available funds for EPA policy research and capacity building for the ACP regional group secretariats and negotiators. This is intended to help the ACP structure EPAs in their development interests and assist them to get the best deal from the negotiations.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c1375W;432 c1371W; 224137
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Development aid EU external trade Trade Trade agreements EU aid ACP countries Economic partnership agreements
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk