Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Mitchell and Douglas Carswell

Wednesday 26th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr Barry Sheerman. He is not here.

[Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton) (Con)]

4. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of budget support aid provided to Uganda.

[The Secretary of State for International Development (Mr Andrew Mitchell)]

There is a narrow role for general budget support in Uganda, but I am reducing its level by 80% over the next four years.

[Mr Carswell]

Is there not a danger that budget support paid to the Ugandan Government helps to make them accountable to British officials, when we should be trying to make them more accountable to their own people?

[Mr Mitchell]

My hon. Friend, who knows a good deal about Uganda, is correct to say that that is a danger, which is why the Government have made it clear that wherever we use general budget support, we will always ensure that up to 5% of the money is spent on enabling civil society to hold its own Government and Executive to account.