Written question asked by Caroline Spelman (Conservative) on Tuesday, 21 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 November 2003. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Monday, 3 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the additional funding for reconstruction in Iraq announced on 14th October will come from planned expenditure for the Department. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 27 October 2003).

Answer: Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the additional funding for reconstruction in Iraq announced on 14 October will come from planned expenditure for the Department. [134487] Hilary Benn: [holding answer 27 October 2003]: The £248 million committed since the beginning of this financial year has been found without any changes to existing programmes. This includes substantial contingency funding from both DFID and the Treasury's Central Reserve. Over the next two years, funding for the reconstruction of Iraq includes £50 million reallocated from planned programmes, together with DFID contingency funding of £115 million and contributions from other Departments. Our Public Service Agreement includes the commitment to increase the share of our bilateral programme going to low income countries to 90 per cent. by 2005-06. As a consequence of the temporary increase in funding for Iraq, which we expect to return to middle income status soon, we will also need to move a further estimated £50 million from middle income country Programmes to low income country programmes. This is in line with our commitment to the 90 per cent. target. The reallocation of planned expenditure should be viewed in the context of a development assistance budget that will increase by £900 million over the current spending review period 2003-06.

Secondary information