asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have agreed a package of assistance to the Government of Montserrat to help with reconstruction following damage estimated at more than a £1 billion caused by volcanic activity. [HL695]

The Department for International Development (DfID) has provided assistance totalling some £250 million to the Government of Montserrat (GoM) since the beginning of the volcanic crisis of 1995-97. As part of this, DfID and GoM agreed in 2004 a country policy plan and indicative funding of £40 million for the three years to March 2007. A new multi-year support plan, and associated funding, is expected to be agreed next year. Additional British government assistance to Montserrat has been provided through our contributions to the European Development Fund, which has supported a number of infrastructure projects on the island.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ask the Government of Montserrat to account for the way in which they have invested the amounts provided by the United Kingdom since volcanic activity commenced, estimated to be over £300 million. [HL696]

The British Government have provided some £250 million in assistance to the Government of Montserrat (GoM) since the onset of volcanic activity in 1995. All this funding is accounted for. This is done in a variety of ways—the GoM's annual accounts; annual audited statements of expenditure on development activities; twice-yearly reviews of government revenue and expenditure; and project-specific monitoring and accounting arrangements. We are currently providing assistance to the GoM to strengthen their accounting systems and remedy a backlog in the public accounts.