House of Commons Hansard Debates for 19 Nov 1990

Mrs. Chalker : My visit was valuable in giving me a closer understanding of the issues involved. I am convinced that our environmental co-operation programme with Brazil is on the right lines and that we should press on with developing our programme in both the urban and the rain forest sectors. I am pleased to have been able to sign agreements on projects in both areas.

I also look forward to new project proposals emerging as a result of the Anglo-Brazilian environmental conference, which I opened in Brasilia.

Human Rights Abuses

Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for which countries, other than the Sudan, Her Majesty's Government have stopped British development aid, on the ground of human rights abuses.

Mrs. Chalker : We have stopped British development aid to Burma and project aid to Somalia. We are at present running down our project aid to Sudan in response to the human rights situation there. We have also delayed implementation of a pledge of programme aid to Sri Lanka pending improvement of the human rights situation there.

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West Indies

Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Overseas Development Administration is giving the Windward Islands and Jamaica to diversify into exports other than bananas over the next decade.

Mrs. Chalker : Assistance for economic diversification to reduce dependence on bananas has been a significant part of our aid programme to the Windward Islands for many years. Current commitments to agricultural diversification total £3.5 million, and this will be an important area for future aid allocations.

Our Jamaica programme focuses on other sectors, though we are providing a grant of £500,000 for the rehabilitation of smallholder coffee following hurricane damage.

The aid programme also helps with diversification into tourism, through improvements to supporting infrastructure such as roads and water and electricity supplies, and with training.

Investment by the Commonwealth Development Corporation--CDC--supports the growth of the coffee industry in Jamaica and tourism and processing of local production for export in the region as a whole. The CDC is also assisting the banana industry in Jamaica to increase its productivity and thus to improve its competitive position in the European market.

Malaysia

Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all offers of aid to Malaysia, with the date the offer was made and the date the aid agreement was signed, since 1979.

Mrs. Chalker : The information requested cannot be provided in the form requested by the hon. Lady, but I can confirm that offers of aid have been made to the Government of Malaysia since 1979 in respect of the following aid and trade provision--ATP--projects and, where aid agreements have been signed, a date, if known, has been added : Offers made for ATP projects and date of aid agreement (only six offers have so far resulted in an aid agreement) Sungei Ahning Dam--28 December 1984

Cross Braced Rail Bogies--31 July 1986

Rural Water Schemes--28 August 1986

Sandakan Power Station--4 March 1989

Nucleus Hospitals--13 July 1990

View data--date not readily available

Pergau Hydro Electric Station

Connaught Bridge Power Station

Sibu Airport

Utora University

Digital Multiplex Equipment

Labuan/Sabah Submarine Cable

Load Despatch Centres

Locomotives

Railway Braking System

Air Navigation Equipment

Peninsular Gas

Optical Fibre Telecommunications

Sarawak Transmission

Sungai Piah Hydro Electric Station

Transmission Switchgear

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East-West Malay Submarine Cable

Indoor Substations

Offshore Gas Development

Gas Turbine Generators

NEB Consultancy Port Klang Power Station

Bersia/Kenering Hydro Electric Station

Submarine Telecommuncations

Switchgear for NEB

Bataing AI

Paka Power Station

Circulating Water Plant

3KV Transmission Switchgear

Communications Equipment

132KV Transmission Switchgear

Submarine Telephone Cable

Peninsular Gas Phase II

Offers made for ATP/Technical Co-operation Projects and Date of Agreement (only six offers have so far resulted in an aid agreement).

Airport Study--19 August 1980.

Privatisation Programme--23 June 1988.

Ulu Jelai Feasibility Study--March 1985 (exact date not readily available).

Liwagu Hydro Electric Study--16 September 1987.

Rural Water Supply Supervision--11 September 1987.

Medamit 2 Study--15 October 1990.

Railways Double Tracking.

Meteorological Study.

Hill Resort Road.

Islamic University Master Plan Study.

Islamic University Socio-Economic Study.

Peninsular Gas Phase II.

Selangor Pipeline Rehabilitation Study.

Air Traffic Control Consultancy.

Aluminium Smelter Study.

Copper Complex Feasibility Study.

Engineering Complex Feasibility Study.

Nenggiri Hydro Electric Consultancy.

Power Generation Feasibility Study.

Rail Training.

Transformers for NEB.

Urea Plant Consultancy.

In addition to ATP activities we have provided various technical co- operation inputs under our regular aid programme for Malaysia. The major elements in the regular aid programme are provision of experts and volunteers and training for students and other trainees. Information on the total number of man years for each of these categories is given in the table.


Year        |Experts and|Student and            

            |Volunteers |Trainees               

            |(man years)|man years              

------------------------------------------------

1979        |97         |164                    

1980        |56         |171                    

1981        |46         |100                    

1982        |43         |76                     

1983        |33         |89                     

1984        |29         |114                    

1985        |34         |86                     

1986        |42         |100                    

1987        |35         |103                    

1988        |33         |105                    

1989        |33         |110

Sahara

Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what relief aid has been given to the Saharans who are currently living in camps in Algeria having fled from western Sahara following its invasion by Morocco.

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Mrs. Chalker : We are not providing any relief aid to the camps in Algeria.

Aid Focus

Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the evidence on which the Minister for Overseas Development based her statement of 8 November that British aid is focused on the poorest sectors and people within poor countries.

Mrs. Chalker [holding answer 16 November 1990] : In my speech to the Refugee Council annual conference on 8 November, I said that the Government were focusing their growing assistance on the poorest countries, on the poorest groups within those countries, and the most vulnerable. In 1989 over 70 per cent. of our gross bilateral aid went to the poorest 50 countries compared with 63 per cent. in 1986. The report of the Public Accounts Committee published on 18 June 1990 recognised that the ODA's efforts to engage in direct poverty alleviation projects were yielding results. In India alone, our commitments to poverty alleviation activities now amount to £130 million with a further £60 million under consideration.

Mrs. Chalker : I have no recollection of using the words quoted by the hon. Member.

Brazil

Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions were held on human rights abuse, particularly of Yanomani people, with Brazilian officials during the visit to Brazil of the Minister for Overseas Development.

Mrs. Chalker [holding answer 16 November 1990] : We have consistently made clear to the Brazilian authorities our views on human rights abuse. During my visit I took the opportunity to discuss with Foreign Minister Rezek the concerns of both Governments about securing a viable future for indigenous peoples including the Yanomani. We understand that the Brazilian authorities are instituting measures which should be helpful in safeguarding indigenous rights.

Aid Expenditure

Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the decision was made that poverty, population and environment are the top priorities for British aid ; what proportion of aid was spent on each of these in 1989 and the current year ; and how the decision will be reflected in aid expenditure in 1991 and in future years.

Mrs. Chalker [holding answer 16 November 1990] : The alleviation of poverty has been a major aim of the aid programme under successive Governments. Recently we have been giving increasing priority to growth and addressing environmental issues. I see these as interrelated issues requiring increasing attention.

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In 1989 a total of £17.3 million was spent on activities directly related to population concerns, a 72 per cent. increase in real terms compared to 1981. In addition most mother and child health and women's education programmes contribute to reducing population growth.

On poverty, I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave her on 26 June, at column 125. On environment, ODA procedures now rightly require that the evaluation of all projects takes account of environmental considerations. The increasing priority given to the issue is reflected in the fact that whereas in 1988 the Government were financing around 80 forestry projects at a cost to the aid programme of £45 million, we currently have in place or in preparation over 200 projects at a cost of some £165 million. Figures for 1990 and future years are not available.

TRANSPORT

Fuel-Burning Trains

Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers his Department has to control and issue guidelines to British Rail regarding the use of fuel-burning trains in urban areas.

Mr. McLoughlin : Operational aspects of motive power are a matter for British Rail. Enforcement of controls under the Clean Air Act 1956 on emissions of dark smoke is by local authorities. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, railway engines other than steam locomotives could become subject to statutory nuisance action by local authorities or individuals.

British Rail

Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will approve British Rail's proposals for new class 159 vehicles for the Waterloo to Exeter route.

Mr. Freeman : The passengers who use the Waterloo-Exeter route are currently getting a service which is below the standard they are entitled to expect, in spite of the best efforts of Network SouthEast managers and staff.

The replacement of the old and unreliable trains on the line has been a priority for both British Rail and the Government. British Rail put to me a sound case for 69 class 159 vehicles to be introduced on the Waterloo- Exeter route, most of which will be converted class 158s, and I approved its proposal today.

It means that passengers can look forward to a modern, reliable and comfortable service at least a year sooner than would otherwise have been possible.

Disabled People (Vehicle Excise Duty)

Sir David Price : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many disabled people in 1989 applied successfully to claim a refund of vehicle excise duty or exemption from the payment of vehicle excise duty.

Mr. Chope : During the period April 1989 to March 1990 there were approximately 22,000 successful first-time claims by disabled people for refunds of vehicle excise duty. There are currently over 350,000 disabled persons claiming exemption from vehicle excise duty.

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Rolling Stock, Kent

Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to the supply of the new Networker rolling stock for use on commuter lines serving north-west Kent ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman : I fully support Network SouthEast's programme of investment in the Kent Link lines. A total of 400 Networker trains were approved in August 1989 at a cost of over £290 million with approval for a further 276 in principle. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has endorsed the 12-car Networker strategy for Kent Link routes. Infrastructure improvements at a cost of over £120 million are going ahead and more rolling stock is likely to be ordered. I understand that the first class 465 Networker is due for delivery to Kent Link in September 1991.

Tachograph Charts

Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to reach a decision about the serialisation of tachograph charts.

Mr. Chope : I hope to be able to announce a decision soon.

Warwick Gardens, Peckham

Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Minister of State will visit Warwick Gardens in Peckham.

Mr. Freeman : It is, of course, for British Rail to propose a route for a new rail link between the channel tunnel and London. However, I intend to visit Warwick Gardens, which are in the Dulwich constituency, at a time of convenience for my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden).

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