To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will state the value and percentages of her Department's 1996–97 total expenditure which were dispersed to (a) northern non-Governmental organisations, (b) southern non-Governmental organisations and (c) other civil society organisations taking into account all forms of aid her Department employs. [79715]

In 1996–97 the Department for International Development (DFID) expenditure through UK NGOs was £167 million which represented 15 per cent. of the bilateral programme and 8 per cent. of total expenditure. Information on spending through overseas NGOs and other civil society organisations is not held separately but is included in DFID' s bilateral country programme expenditure.