Written question asked by Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Tunnicliffe (Labour) on Monday, 9 March 2009.

Department for International Development: DEL

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Statement by Lord Tunnicliffe on 12 February (WS 82-83) on the Department for International Development's departmental expenditure, why most of the transfers are from the Department for International Development to other departments.

Answer: The specific reasons for each budget transfer are detailed in the Written Statement (WS 82-83). There are two general reasons why most of these are transfers from the Department for International Development (DfID) to other government departments: DfID is the financial manager of the Conflict Prevention Pool (CPP). CPP resources are allocated in the first instance to DfID, but management of the specific projects is shared between DfID, the FCO and the MoD. The spring supplementaries are used to transfer funds to the MoD and FCO in line with their project spend. Of a budget of £112 million in 2008-09, the MoD will spend approximately 40 per cent, the FCO 30 per cent, and DfID 30 per cent; and DfID is involved in part-funding several projects that contribute towards DfID's objectives, but are managed by other government departments. Examples include the International Inspiration Project (led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport), which aims to use the power of sport to transform the lives of children and young people of all abilities, in schools and communities across the world; and the returns and reintegration fund (led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office), the primary aim of which is to increase the number of foreign national prisoners and failed asylum seekers who return to their countries of origin, while ensuring that those who return are effectively reintegrated.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 1686; 708 c202-3WA
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Department for International Development: DEL
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Written statements
House of Lords
Subjects: Department for International Development Public expenditure Departmental expenditure limits
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk