To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if his Department will take steps at EU level to ensure the publication of multiannual timetables showing how European Union member states are meeting their aid targets. (210340)

European Union member states strongly reaffirmed their commitment to their aid targets at the recent General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC). The Council’s conclusions also strongly encourage member states to establish multi-annual timetables as soon as possible to illustrate how they will reach these targets. The Council also called on the European Commission to include information on the establishment and implementation of these timetables in its regular reporting on financing for development. The next report will be published in early 2009.

The UK worked hard to ensure that the conclusions on aid targets and timetables were agreed by member states at the GAERC, and continues to push for the establishment and implementation of timetables for all EU member states. We report progress against our own targets on a regular basis, including in the DFID Annual Report.