To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what progress is being made towards the alleviation of poverty in Sierra Leone. [129445]

There is insufficient data available since the end of the civil war to show trends in poverty reduction. In 2001, The Government of Sierra Leone published an Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy, focused on re-establishment of security and economic recovery. The Government hopes to complete a full Poverty Reduction Strategy by mid-2004. It will be the basis for targeting Government and donor resources on poverty reduction. The preparatory process includes a household expenditure survey and sector studies that will provide information on the extent and depth of poverty, a baseline for future monitoring and poverty reduction measures. We are providing extensive support to the preparation of the strategy.