To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the UK's financial contribution to the African Union is in 2007-08; what this contribution has been used to fund; and what plans the Government have to provide funding for these budget lines in 2008-09. (181735)

DFID has provided £20,000 in 2007-08 to the African Union Commission (AUC) to support the upgrade of its procurement manual to international standards.

DFID has approved £500,000 over two years towards the African Union Commission's Institutional Transformation programme. The first instalment (£125,000) was due in 2007-08; however, the AUC are still to agree to the DFID funding arrangement.

The Africa Conflict Prevention programme has allocated £1 million for the African Union Peace and Security Department for 2007-08 and has allocated £1.25 million for 2008-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Commission for Africa Report recommendation that donors agree to fund at least 50 per cent. of the African Union's (AU's) Peace Fund from 2005 onwards has been implemented; what representations he has made to international donors to encourage further funding for the AU's Peace Fund; and if he will make a statement. (181737)

The UK supported the Commission for Africa's recommendation that at least 50 per cent. of the African Union Peace Fund should be supported by donors. A payment of £5.5 million was made in 2006 through the Africa Peace Fund for the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS). However, as both the scale of AU peacekeeping operations increased, and donors increased their support, other funding channels have been developed with the AU, including further contributions for peacekeeping operations in Somalia and Sudan. This provides greater operational effectiveness and accountability for donor funds, and means that less use of the Peace Fund is likely to be made in future.

The UK continues to work with other donors in the EU and at the UN to find a mechanism that ensures predictable financing for AU peace work, while providing appropriate levels of accountability.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the UK has provided by voluntary contribution to the African Union Peace Fund since 2005. (181738)

In 2006, the UK provided a contribution of £5.5 million through the AU Peace Fund to cover the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) running costs for the period 15 November 2005 to 31 March 2006. Since then, and in common with other donors, UK support has been via separate financing arrangements rather than the AU Peace Fund. For example, the UK provided at least £31.5 million for AMIS, through specific AU bank accounts set up for this purpose, to enhance operational effectiveness and accountability for the fund.