India: Development Aid

Question

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that aid provided to the Government of India focuses on removing any caste-based breaches of human rights, eliminating the causes of poverty, and targeting slavery and trafficking; and whether they will put in place indicators to measure that. [HL1741]

Earl Attlee: The 2002 International Development Act makes reducing poverty the central objective of the Department for International Development's (DfID's) assistance. In India, DfID supports specific programmes that tackle discrimination and help marginalised groups to hold the Government to account. In addition, UK support to universal elementary education in India includes a target on increasing the enrolment of girls and Dalit and Adivasi (tribal) children. By working to tackle poverty and discrimination, DfID is helping to address the root causes of slavery and trafficking.

The Secretary of State has recently announced a bilateral aid review for each of its country programmes. This review will determine the future size and direction of the India programme.

Source: Lords Hansard 27 Sep 2010 Column WA417