Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what the cost to the public purse was of Official Development Assistance funding to Montserrat in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.
Montserrat remains stricken by volcanic eruptions which occurred 29 years ago. Through the FCDO's Budget Support Programme, we provided £23.6 million in Financial Year 2021/2022, £28.8 million in Financial Year 22/23 and are providing £30.32 million in Financial Year 2023/2024 to support critical public services. Through the FCDO funded Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Economic Growth, we are providing £40 million over six years (2019-2025) to rebuild critical infrastructure, including a new hospital. The FCDO are providing £4.5 million through the Improving Essential Equipment for Aided Overseas Territories Programme from 2022-2024. Through FCDO administered CSSF Justice, Governance, and Border Security Programmes, we provide approximately £2 million annually, and we provided £1.86 million during the pandemic through the CSSF Covid-19 programme. We provide approximately £60,000 annually through the International Programme and the FCDO's UK's Caribbean Infrastructure Fund is providing £28.3 million to the Montserrat Port Development Project.