Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the economic impact of ebola on the economy of Sierra Leone and its implication for the share of the United Kingdom Official Development Assistance that country will receive in the current, and next, financial year.

The Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone occurred alongside a steep fall in iron ore prices and these two crises together prompted a sharp drop in Sierra Leone’s economic activity. All of Sierra Leone’s economic sectors have been affected by these crises, including agriculture upon which more than 60% of the population depend for their livelihoods.

So far the UK has committed £325 million to eradicating the disease in Sierra Leone and the UK priority is to get to zero cases as soon as possible and prevent any new outbreaks in Sierra Leone. However, in parallel the UK is working with the Government of Sierra Leone on longer term economic recovery.