To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the future of the Conflict Prevention Pool; and if he will make a statement. (266008)

I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary on 25 March 2009, Official Report, columns 17-18WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's priority areas are for the Conflict Prevention Pool. (266141)

The Department for International Development's (DFID) priority areas for the Conflict Prevention Pool are consistent with those set out in PSA 30:

A downward trend in the number of conflicts globally, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa;

Reduced impact of conflict in specific countries and regions (Afghanistan, Iraq—funded through the Stabilisation Aid Fund, Balkans, Middle East, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region, Horn of Africa, Nigeria and Sudan);

More effective international institutions, better able to prevent, manage and resolve conflict and build peace.

DFID remains focused on those countries and regions considered at most risk of instability in Africa, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The Foreign Secretary's written ministerial statement of 25 March, Official Report, columns 17-18WS, sets out specific priorities and changes to conflict funding in 2009-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the Conflict Prevention Pool funding is being spent in sub-Saharan Africa in 2008-09. (266142)

The Conflict Prevention Pool is forecast to spend £68 million on sub-Saharan Africa from an overall Conflict Prevention Pool budget of £112 million in 2008-09. This works out at around 60 per cent. of the total budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Conflict Prevention Pool funds are not duplicated by spending by (a) other Government departments and (b) international partners. (266143)

The Conflict Prevention Pool (CPP) is managed and governed at all levels tri-departmentally between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). This minimises the possibility of duplicating our spending 'with other Government departments with all projects approved by tri-departmental boards and with all three departments engaged at the country or project level.

Programme teams have long-established relationships with partner organisations and have a good understanding of our international partner interests in a region. Interventions are designed from the start to complement and not duplicate spending by other international partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's plans are for the future of the Conflict Prevention Pool. (267305)

I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary on 25 March 2009, Official Report, columns 17-18WS.