Written question asked by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 25 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 October 2006. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 November 2006 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Afghanistan

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of the money collected in toll payments for the use of the Kabul to Kandahar highway will go to (a) road maintenance, (b) the USA and (c) other donor states.

Answer: The money raised from the road toll scheme is not earmarked for any specific purposes but rather contributes to the Government of Afghanistan’s core budget spending. In last years’ budget, spending on development was 63 per cent. of total expenditures with security and governance at 30 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively. Within development spending the largest areas of expenditure were agriculture and rural development at 21 per cent. and infrastructure and natural resources at 14 per cent.None of the money raised will go directly to the USA or other donor states. However, the scheme does rely on the use of stickers which are purchased from a German firm. Two years supply of anti-counterfeit stickers cost $450,000, around 2.5 per cent. of the scheme’s expected returns over the same period. The German firm won the contract after a tendering process consistent with the Government of Afghanistan Procurement Law.

Secondary information