[holding answer 12 July 2007]: We expect to provide £70 million through our programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2007-08, which is aimed at three broad objectives:
(a) saving lives and meeting humanitarian needs;
(b) supporting democratisation and reform of the army, police and justice systems, to consolidate peace and stability in DRC; and
(c) expanding access to basic services and stimulating broad based economic growth through more equitable use of natural resources.
DFID itself does not run programmes in DRC. Our programmes are implemented by local and international non-governmental organisations and multilateral agencies. Last year 1 per cent. of our funding also went through the government of DRC, and in future we would expect to provide more through government systems if these can be proven to be effective.
DFID does not provide direct development assistance to Tunisia or Thailand which are middle-income countries. However, we provide significant support to countries in north Africa and the middle east through multilateral channels. In particular we will contribute a £1.5 billion share of the EC's European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument's (ENPI) £8.3 billion support from 2007 to 2013, which will include aid to Tunisia. DFID also provides funding to the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the European Commission, which have programmes in Thailand.