To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department gives (a) directly, (b) through the EU and (c) through the UN to assist with the cost of democratic elections in developing countries. (117915)

DFID contributed £17.1 million as direct bilateral assistance in support of democratic elections in 2005-06, some of which will be provided through multilateral organisations based in developing countries.

DFID also supports the UN and the EC in assisting developing countries to carry out democratic elections through core and non core contributions. However, DFID does not hold details of what proportion of our contributions to the UN or the EC were used to assist with the cost of democratic elections.