Evidence suggests that progress on the education millennium development goals (MDGs) has contributed to the substantial drop in the number of children out of school, down from 108 million in 1999 to 61 million in 2010 (UNESCO 2012). There is, however, limited available data on disabled children accessing primary school. It is currently estimated that one third of the children out of school worldwide have a disability and in Africa fewer than 10% of disabled children are in school (UNESCO 2012). We do not, however, have reliable data on how this has changed over time.

Monitoring of the MDGs and other internationally agreed development goals is highly dependent on comparable and reliable information. DfID is working with partners to ensure equitable access to learning for all, including those with disabilities. For example, the UK is working closely with the Global Partnership for Education, World Bank, UNICEF and Ausaid in supporting disability screening, data collection and

developing data collection modules. This work will help ensure support is targeted to those children still out of school as well as those in school but not learning. DfID is also looking at ways to ensure that issues of marginalisation and inequality, including ensuring access to quality education for children with disabilities, are central to discussions on the post-2015 framework.

The UK Government recognise the importance of including disabled people in development programmes that aim to improve the lives of the poorest. Together with other parts of government, DfID is fully engaged in preparations for the high level panel meeting on disability and the millennium development goals in September. DfID officials have participated in the United Nation’s initial consultations and will also attend the European Commission’s first regional consultations to prepare for the September meeting.

DfID is committed to working with the governments of developing countries to ensure that the issues faced by all vulnerable girls and women, including those with disabilities, are addressed in its programmes including those announced in the Secretary of State’s speech.

DfID carries out country-level analysis and social impact appraisal of programmes to ensure that all UK-supported development programmes maximise impact and manage risks, including for the most marginalised people, including people with disabilities.

Since January 2010, DfID has disbursed £36.25 million directly to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). The Government of Pakistan remain the main funder of BISP, contributing approximately 90% of total funds, with DfID and the World Bank providing the remaining 10%.

The UK is politically impartial in Pakistan. Our development assistance is based solely on need and effectiveness. The BISP was unanimously approved by an Act of Parliament in 2010. The UK is funding BISP because it reaches the very poorest and most vulnerable people across Pakistan, regardless of political affiliation.

BISP uses an objective poverty scorecard to identify beneficiaries. DfID and the World Bank are working closely with BISP to ensure that the targeting of beneficiaries remains objective and apolitical.

The UK is providing clinical care and counselling for 12,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan who have experienced trauma and sexual assault. In addition, as part of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), UK experts have been deployed with Physicians for Human Rights to train Syrian health professionals in how to respond to reports of sexual violence. This year we are carrying out further deployments to continue this work.

No costs have been incurred by DFID. The Kandahar Helmand Power Project to enhance the electrical power output of the Kajaki Dam is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

DFID publishes details of expenditure on Official Development Assistance (ODA), in 'Statistics on International Development' (SID) which is available in the House Library or online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statistics-on-international-development

Tables 16.2 to 16.6 provide the total UK net ODA broken down by country, covering five calendar years (2007-11). This information can be found in the column headed 'UK Net Bilateral ODA'.

For 2012, provisional ODA figures have been published and final outturn figures will be published in October 2013.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statistical-release-provisional-uk-official-development-assistance-oda-as-a-proportion-of-gross-national-income-2012

Country specific information for financial year 2011-12 and provisional plans for 2012-13 and 2014-15 can be found in DFID's Annual Report (table B6). Updated information will be included in the Department's 2012-13 Annual report, which will be published in June.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfid-annual-report-and-accounts-2011-2012

Country operational plans are also available on DFID's website, and provide information on planned expenditure for 2013-14 and 2014-15 These are currently being refreshed and updated plans will be published at the end of June.

Budgets for 2015 onwards have not yet been set.

Provisional spending plans for 2012-13 to 2014-15 can be found in DFID's Annual Report (table B6). Updated information will be included in the Department's 2012-13 Annual report, which will be published in June.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfid-annual-report-and-accounts-2011-2012

Country operational plans are also available on DFID's website, and provide information on planned expenditure for 2013-14 and 2014-15. These are currently being refreshed and updated plans will be published at the end of June.

The Department for International Development (DFID) relies on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for data on UK private investment overseas. Part 3 of the UK Balance of Payments (the Pink Book) publishes a geographical breakdown of income balances and is available online for the period 2007-11 at:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bop/united-kingdom-balance-of-payments/2012/index.html

Full estimates cannot be made for the amount of private investment from the UK in each of the last five years because the ONS does not provide a further systematic breakdown for all developing countries. Further illustrative data on foreign direct investment by individual UK companies to major developing country economies for the same period can also be accessed via the ONS website at:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/search/index.html?pageSize=50&newquery=foreign+direct+investment

At a national level 4 million children in primary education will be benefiting from DFID support by 2015. We are seeing real progress across the country. DFID technical assistance through the Punjab School Reform Roadmap, which was launched in 2011, has seen at least 1 million additional children enrolled in pre-school and school, average student attendance up 9% to 92% and teacher absenteeism down from 19% to 9%. In Khyber Pakthunkwa we have distributed 400,000 stipends to girls and supported Parent Teacher Councils to provide basic facilities in 6,982 schools. We are also looking to expand our support in Sindh and through the Education Fund for Sindh, over 18,000 children have been supported.

Responsibility for education in Pakistan is devolved to provincial level, and DFID education programmes are designed to meet the needs of individual provinces. As a result, interventions are not directly comparable. However, all DFID programmes are subject to reviews of their effectiveness through annual reviews and project completion reports, according to standard DFID project cycle management procedures. Our Education programme was described as

“sophisticated, multi-dimensional and innovative, with a balanced approach to access, equity and quality”

by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) report on the DFID bilateral aid to Pakistan.

The Government is very concerned about access to water for Palestinians in Gaza, where 90% of drinking water does not meet international standards. The UK does not directly fund water projects in the OPTs since a large number of organisations already work on water and sanitation issues. However, UK support to the EU. contributes to EU funded projects in the water, sanitation and basic infrastructure sector.

One of the key obstacles to improving water supply in Gaza is Israeli restrictions on the import of goods and equipment into the Gaza Strip. The UK has pressed the Israeli authorities to take immediate and practical measures to improve the current unacceptable situation and ensure the fair distribution of water in Gaza.

To date the UK is providing £141.1 million in humanitarian aid to assist people affected by the crisis in Syria and the region. This funding is channelled through humanitarian partners, including UN agencies, non-governmental organisations

and humanitarian agencies operating on the ground in Syria. As well as providing support within Syria, we are targeting communities in neighbouring countries so that they are able to continue their generous efforts in hosting refugees.

£84.2 million of UK assistance is directed to Syria; £26.1 million to Jordan; £19.5 million to Lebanon; £6.3 million to Turkey; and £2.4 million to Iraq. A further £2.6 million is provided for the region as a whole, and used by humanitarian organisations to fill urgent funding gaps. In Syria and across the region, UK Aid is funding food for more than 147,000 people, drinking water for more than 76,000 people, and more than 178,000 medical consultations.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

DFID spends UK aid in Zambia on the following categories: wealth creation, governance and security, education, health, sanitation, and poverty, hunger and vulnerability. DFID's aid is delivered through a combination of commercial service providers, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and Government-related channels.

In financial year 2011-12, DFID's expenditure on aid to Zambia was £42,668,000.

No decisions have yet been taken on the focus countries for DfID’s new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Research and Innovation Fund, although they will reflect departmental priorities.

[holding answer 18 April 2013]: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has administered the following projects that are attributable to Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013:

In addition to this, in March 2011, DECC contributed £19 Million to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund, which is managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on behalf of the international community to assist in the remediation of the site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.