6. To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's provision of direct budgetary support in developing countries; and if he will make a statement. (193267)

Independent evaluations of the impact of budget support have demonstrated that, in the right circumstances, budget support has

strengthened countries' public financial management systems;

improved the efficiency of their public expenditure; and

increased the services provided by partner governments, particularly in health and education.