To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what criteria are used to determine which organisations take part in (a) Partnership Programme arrangements, (b) Strategic Grant agreements and (c) Strategic Framework Partnership agreements; (309745)

The most recent competitive call for proposals for Partnership Programme Arrangements (PPAs) was held in 2006. The Department for International Development's criteria for Partnership Programme arrangement applications are posted on the DFID website at:

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Working-with-DFID/Funding-Schemes/Funding-for-not-for-profit-organisations/PPAs/

DFID does not have any Strategic Grant Agreements or Strategic Framework Partnership Agreements.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) purposes and (b) terms are of each current (i) Strategic Grant Agreement and (ii) Strategic Framework Partnership Agreement entered into by his Department. (309747)

The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have any current Strategic Grant Agreements or Strategic Framework Partnership Agreements.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to improve the mechanisms for (a) accountability and (b) performance measurement of expenditure from grants provided by his Department. (309808)

The Department for International Development (DFID) requires all grant recipients to provide audited financial statements and also checks on the use of funds by conducting annual monitoring reviews. Performance measurement has been improved through the introduction of a strengthened results framework at the project level which details objectives and expected outcomes.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many non-governmental organisations in receipt of grants from his Department are not required to provide audit information including itemised expenditure in respect of such grants. (309810)

All organisations in receipt of funding from the Department for International Development are required to provide evidence about the use of funds through Annual Audited Accounts or special audited statements.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether any funding provided by his Department to non-governmental organisations may be spent by them on communications and public relations activities. (309811)

Funding provided to non-governmental organisations by the Department for International Development must meet the development assistance or humanitarian assistance tests of the International Development Act. In addition all grants must be spent in accordance with the specific objectives and criteria set out in each of the funding arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of non-governmental organisations in receipt of grants from his Department (a) audit themselves and (b) are independently audited in relation to their expenditure of such funding. (309812)

Grants provided by the Department for International Development require evidence about the use of such funds through the receipt of Annual Audited Accounts, or through a special audited statement. In both circumstances this follows an independent examination.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure greater accountability of expenditure by third party organisations of Partnership Programme Arrangements funding on projects. (309813)

The Partnership Programme Arrangements (PPAs) provide funding in support of mutually agreed high level developmental outcomes. The Department for International Development (DFID) holds PPA organisations accountable for achieving agreed outcomes. DFID does not directly monitor the effectiveness of a PPA organisation's in-country partners.

We are currently working with all PPA organisations to review and strengthen their performance frameworks to ensure greater accountability against agreed outcomes.