Foreign and Commonwealth Office

David Lidington Excerpts

Wednesday 22nd January 2014 Ministerial Corrections

The following is an extract from the response by the Minister for Europe, the right hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), to the Backbench Business debate on Bangladesh on 16 January 2014.

[Mr Lidington]

Most United Kingdom aid is channelled through non-governmental organisations and none is paid directly to the Bangladesh Government. It is true that about a third of our total aid programme ultimately goes to the Bangladesh Government’s health and education systems because, as we all know, help with primary health care and education are key to promoting the economic development and sustainable growth of a developing country. However, that one-third share is channelled via reputable NGOs, such as the United Nations, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and money is paid out by our Government only once we have been given clear, accountable evidence that a project or programme in the education or health sector has been delivered. That aspect of our aid is delivered on a reimbursement basis.

[Official Report, 16 January 2014, Vol. 573, c. 1054.]

Letter of correction from David Lidington:

An error has been identified in the response given on 16 January 2014. The correct response should have been:

[Mr Lidington]

Most United Kingdom aid is channelled through non-governmental organisations and that which is paid to the Government of Bangladesh is done so on a reimbursement basis. It is true that about a third of our total aid programme ultimately goes to the Bangladesh Government’s health and education systems because, as we all know, help with primary health care and education are key to promoting the economic development and sustainable growth of a developing country. However, that one-third share is channelled via reputable NGOs, such as the United Nations, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and money is paid out by our Government only once we have been given clear, accountable evidence that a project or programme in the education or health sector has been delivered. That aspect of our aid is delivered on a reimbursement basis.