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OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Family Planning
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 13 December, Official Report, columns 665-66, what were the criteria used for awarding grants to non-governmental organisations applying for funding for reproductive health projects in (a) 1994 and (b) 1995. [14801]
Mr. Hanley: Grants were awarded for activities which addressed reproductive health needs in the community. The criteria included (i) the innovative content of proposals and prospects for their replication, (ii) the capability and experience of the organisation seeking funds, (iii) the overall quality of the project design, (iv) relevance of the project to ODA's reproductive health aims, (v) the cost of the project in relation to anticipated achievement and (vi) availability of funds.
Expenditure Review
Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recommendations contained in the fundamental expenditure review of the Overseas Development Administration. [15312]
Mr. Hanley:
The fundamental expenditure review of the ODA was thorough and wide ranging. It involved
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consultation with many of our principal partners. We deposited the report in the Libraries of the House in December and it is available also from the ODA.
The FER's conclusions were recommendations only. Many built on work already in progress. The Government have taken into account Members' views expressed in the debates on development on 30 January and 7 February. The Government's response to the key recommendations is as follows.
First and foremost, the FER confirmed the continuing need for the UK to provide substantial flows of concessional aid; and recommended that the ODA should retain responsibility for bilateral and multilateral aid. The Government strongly endorse both recommendations, which underpin our commitment to remain a major donor.
The review recommends clarification of the purpose of the aid programme by a better definition of its basic purpose and aims. The Government have agreed a revised mission statement which defines the ODA's overriding purpose, as well as the aims to be pursued.
The new mission statement is as follows:
The Government will continue to assist a wide variety of other countries through bilateral country aid programmes. At the same time we will increase the number of countries where a direct aid relationship is sustained through heads of mission schemes rather than a traditional bilateral country aid programme. In addition, we shall maintain worthwhile aid relationship through multilateral channels and through other non-country bilateral programmes, including research, scholarships, volunteers and our financial support for British non-governmental organisations.
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At the same time, the ODA will sharpen its focus even further on activities which contribute directly to its aims. The FER made a number of sensible recommendations to enhance the strategic planning process within the ODA. Better corporate and business planning has begun, strengthening the important links in all cases between the objectives and the resources of all kinds used to achieve them.
The United Kingdom makes an increasing contribution through multilateral aid. The FER recommended strengthening our role in multilateral organisations; improving linkages to our bilateral aid; and securing better value. The Government accept these recommendations. The ODA will continue to have lead policy and financial responsibility for those multilateral programmes which are a charge to the aid budget. We will reinforce our efforts to improve the quality and focus of programmes managed by multilateral organisations. This will include reform in the UN agencies as well as continuing work in Brussels. The ODA will play a still greater role in promoting international policies for sustainable development and enhancing the effectiveness of multilateral development institutions.
The FER made a number of recommendations concerned essentially with internal management processes. All have a common purpose: to improve further the effectiveness of the ODA, to increase impact, and to obtain better value for money. The majority have been accepted and are now being implemented.
Very few recommendations were not accepted. Notwithstanding the recommendations in the FER, the geographical Minister of State in the Foreign Office will continue to have formal responsibility for the joint assistance units managing programmes in the former Soviet Union and east and central Europe; and the ODA will continue to make a grant in aid to the British Council.
The FER was followed and complemented by a senior management review. Changes recommended include a restructuring of responsibility at senior management level and the designation of a senior manager to promote each of the four aims.
Mrs. Anne Campbell:
To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all (a) Internet and (b) other computer network, sites or bulletin boards operated by his Department or containing information supplied by his Department, indicating for each site or bulletin board (i) the inaugural date, (ii) the timetable and policy in respect of updates, (iii) the Internet, or other network, address and (iv) to whom the site or board is currently made available and the criteria which must be fulfilled by applicants for access. [14228]
The Solicitor-General:
The Crown Prosecution Service makes press notices available to the public via the Internet using the Central Office of Information's service on the world wide web. The information requested is as follows:
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Mr. Miller:
To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all cases where spare computer capacity has been sold to other Departments since 1987, giving the Department and value of each contract. [14087]
The Solicitor-General:
There have been no such sales by departments for which the Attorney-General is responsible.
Ms Janet Anderson:
To ask the Attorney-General how many people have been prosecuted for stalking under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 as it relates to crimes of intentional harassment. [14464]
Mr. Maclean:
I have been asked to reply.
Information on cautioning and court proceedings data for offences of "Causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress" under section 154 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 will not be available until autumn 1996.
Mr. John Morris:
To ask the Attorney-General (1) on how many occasions, in each year since 1966, Ministers have signed public interest immunity certificates in criminal trials; [15099]
The Attorney-General:
The information requested is not collected centrally either by Government or by individual prosecuting authorities. My answer is therefore confined to the three prosecuting authorities for which I have ministerial responsibility. On the basis of the best information currently available, the number of criminal cases in which public interest immunity certificates are known to have been used is as follows:
The FER recommended that ODA's country programme resources should be more concentrated in order to enhance impact. The Government agree with this principle. A larger proportion of our bilateral resources will be allocated to those countries which need it most, can use it effectively and where it will have a real impact. Account will also be taken of Britain's wider national interests. There will be no sudden change. Already the 20 largest recipients accounted for some 69 per cent. of planned country programme expenditure in the last financial year, and on current plans we expect this proportion to increase to some 73 per cent. by 1998-99. There is no specific target percentage nor will the list of the largest recipients necessarily be exactly the same from year to year--though concentration on the poorer countries in Africa and Asia will continue.
ODA's purpose is to improve the quality of life of people in poorer countries by contributing to sustainable development and reducing poverty and suffering.
To this end ODA will aim:
to encourage sound development policies, efficient markets and good government;
to help people achieve better education and health and to widen opportunities--particularly for women;
to enhance productive capacity and to conserve the environment; and
to promote international policies for sustainable development and enhance the effectiveness of multilateral development institutions.
(ii) Press notices from the Crown Prosecution Service remain on the Internet until the information becomes out of date.
(iii) http://www.coi.gov.uk/coi/depts/GCP/GCP.html.
(iv) All subscribers to the Internet have access to the press notices.
(2) on how many occasions, in each year since 1979, public interest has been claimed in the courts in criminal cases. [15100]
| CPS(11) | SFO(11) | DPP(NI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 1988 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1989 | 2 | 1 | -- |
| 1990 | 1 | 1 | -- |
| 1991 | -- | 1 | -- |
| 1992 | 2 | -- | 1 |
| 1993 | 4 | -- | -- |
| 1994 | 3 | 1 | -- |
| 1995 | 5 | -- | 1 |
(11) The Crown Prosecution Service became operational in 1986 and the Serious Fraud Office in 1988.
The number of cases in which public interest immunity is claimed without ministerial certificate--for example, in relation to informants which is the regular practice--is not recorded centrally.
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