Annex 4 - Data sources

1. Figures for the DFID programme are produced from a combination of data held on DFID’s internal accounting and management information system, ARIES, and the UK attributions of EC budgetary spending.

2. Non-DFID aid figures are provided by the relevant departments and agencies directly to DFID. The element of Gift Aid provided to voluntary agencies for use on international development is estimated from a Voluntary Agencies Survey (VAS) conducted by DFID in line with current survey control policy.

3. The CDC provides quarterly information on its new investments and equity purchases and sales, all of which are included in GPEX. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) reports annual aid flows to UN organisations and a proportion of its administration costs are reportable to DAC as aid to developing countries. The FCO also produce annual figures for expenditure on programmes classified as ODA.

4. The Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD) reports new agreements and calculates annual disbursements of official debt relief on export credit debts. CDC provides details of debt relief on its loans quarterly.

5. In 2005/06, the Scottish Government started reporting expenditure programmes which have been classified as ODA.

6. In addition to the above sources, DAC reporting on calendar years requires data on export credits (both official and private), provided by ECGD; on direct investments, provided by the Office for National Statistics; and on bilateral securities and other claims, provided by the Bank of England. Private flows from voluntary agencies are estimated from data collected in the VAS.

7. Data for the international comparisons contained in Tables 6 and 15 are from the DAC website.

8. The statistics on recipient countries given in Annex 1 are taken from the World Bank and DAC website.