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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Albania
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list by type and funding the know-how fund projects in Albania since 1992. [16411]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The know-how fund set up its programme for Albania in 1993. Since then, it has focused on the following priority sectors: financial services; public administration and good government; agriculture; and health. The fund has also run projects in the media and education sectors.
Projects vary in size of funding from a few hundred pounds to several hundreds of pounds. There are therefore too many to list in full. The following are the projects on which the fund has disbursed over £100,000 since 1993:
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| Projects | £ |
|---|---|
| Farm-land restructuring | 113,053 |
| Advice on privatising the Rural Commercial bank | 173,167 |
| Support in setting up the stock exchange and advice on setting up investment funds | 191,043 |
| Advice on local government finance and budgeting | 343,329 |
| Attachment of British haematologist to Albanian National Blood Transfusion Service | 123,230 |
| Assistance to Albanian National Health Insurance Institute | 178,108 |
| Pre-investment feasibility studies since January 1994 | 139,841 |
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the use of the diplomatic bag to convey party political propaganda to Tirana. [16403]
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the individuals supported by the Westminster Foundation in Albania since 1992. [16409]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The Westminster Foundation, whose board is drawn from all political parties in the House of Commons, is independent of the Government in taking decisions on which projects it supports.
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Albanian Government officials made Foreign and Commonwealth Office sponsored visits to the United Kingdom in (a) 1993, (b) 1994, (c) 1995, (d) 1996 and (e) 1997. [16402]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: Visits sponsored by the Department to the UK by Albanian Government officials numbered, in financial years--1993 -94, 11 (five visit programmes); 1994-95, 13 (three visit programmes); 1995-96, three (two visit programmes); 1996-97, one.
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Albanian government in respect of their detention of (a) opposition leaders and (b) journalists. [16400]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: We have raised with the Albanian Deputy Foreign Minister our deep concern at reports of arrests and intimidation by the authorities in Tirana. We have also pressed in the European Union for EU ambassadors to express their concern collectively.
Environmental Audit (Departmental Buildings)
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of (a) energy use and (b) waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16419]
Mr. Hanley:
This Department continually strives to reduce the impact of its activities on the environment. We retain the services of consultants who advise on energy efficiency and environmental matters for the UK estate. For example, a recent line analysis of electrical demand in the main building has identified possibilities for additional
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savings on power consumption. Most recently, a report in the management of waste paper has been prepared which will be used to enhance the existing recycling system.
Mr. Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 1996, Official Report, columns 643-44, regarding the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing, if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated this within those buildings his Department (a) occupies in the United kingdom and (b) occupies abroad; and if he will make a statement. [16444]
Mr. Hanley:
Both diplomatic and overseas development wings of the Department retain the services of consultants to advised on energy efficiency and environmental matters concerning buildings occupied in the United Kingdom. The introduction of energy efficient lighting, modern boiler controls and optimisers have all contributed to cutting energy usage and costs. When maintaining, building or refurbishing properties for occupation overseas, the Department encourages consideration of the issues promoted by the Building Research Establishment/environmental assessment method. The Department also provides guidance to all overseas posts to enable compliance with global environmental issues.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the presence of (a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone depleting substances within those buildings which his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16279]
Mr. Hanley:
Both wings of this Department maintain registers of hazardous materials--such as asbestos or polychlorinatedbiphenyls--in its buildings in UK and overseas. The chemical treatment programme for legionella is managed by specialists in the field.
We are careful not to endanger the further depletion of the ozone layer, through a responsible procurement and disposal policy at home and abroad. Improvements in insulation levels and building services design and installation are encouraged. New air-conditioning systems operate with non-chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. Halon fire extinguishers have been withdrawn. Advisory leaflets on CFCs, halon and energy conservation have been issued.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation of the Banaban population in Fiji; what compensation has been paid to the Banaban people by Her Majesty's Government since 1981; and what part Her Majesty's Government have played in the environmental rehabilitation of the island of Banaba. [14994]
Mr. Hanley:
The Banaban community, based principally on the island of Rabi in Fiji, participate fully in Fiji's civil affairs. Its people retain links with their home island, where some still live, which is now part of the Republic of Kiribati. The Banabans enjoy special constitutional safeguards in both Fiji and Kiribati.
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No payments have been made since the ex gratia 14.5 million Australian dollars compensation settlement by the British Phosphate Commission in 1981. Her Majesty's Government have played no part in Banaba's environmental rehabilitation since 1981, as this remains the responsibility of the Kiribati Government.
Mr. Meacher:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to pages 24 and 29, volume 6 of the appropriation accounts 1995-96, class VII, vote 3--HC ii-VI, Session 1996-97--what factors underlay the reductions in expenditure on (a) environmental protection in industry, with particular reference to the reasons for underbidding in the programme for the promotion of positive environmental management and (b) OECD contribution towards the framework convention on climate change. [15660]
Mr. Gummer:
The promotion of positive environmental management in industry programme was established in response to a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Business and Environment. It supports intermediaries working to raise awareness of environmental issues among small and medium firms and helps them improve their environmental performance. The programme primarily supports six pilot local initiatives, and expenditure on these was as planned during 1995-96. A small proportion of the budget was set aside for work with other business support organisations, but fewer suitable projects were identified than originally envisaged, leading to expenditure lower than forecast.
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