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Severn Bridge
Mrs. Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the terms of the contract for the management of the first Severn bridge. [588]
Ms Glenda Jackson: There are no plans to review the terms of the contract for the management of the Severn Bridge.
Salisbury Bypass
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce his decision on the Salisbury bypass project. [89]
Ms Glenda Jackson [holding answer 20 May 1997]: A report on aspects of the route of this proposed bypass was published on 21 March. No decision will be taken until the comments received on this report and other relevant representations have been considered.
PRIME MINISTER
EU Social Chapter
17. Mr. Butterfill: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the implications of the EU social chapter for the competitiveness of British industry. [356]
The Prime Minister:
The two measures adopted so far under the Social Chapter--European Works Councils and Parental leave--will promote good working relations. That can only be good for competitiveness. By ending the last Government's futile opt-out, we will play a full part in negotiations and ensure that the Social Chapter promotes flexibility and employability, not high social costs.
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20. Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the minimum wage. [359]
The Prime Minister:
The Gracious Speech made clear our commitment to the introduction of legislation to set in place a National Minimum Wage. It will be set sensibly and will provide a wage floor to remove the worst excesses of low pay and exploitation of workers.
Development Policy (Ethical Issues)
10. Mr. Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to address ethical issues in determining Britain's international development policy; and if she will make a statement. [322]
Clare Short: Ethics will be at the heart of our international development policy.
Third-world Debt
11. Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to promote debt forgiveness initiatives. [323]
Clare Short: The Government is giving its full support to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative. As I have said, the aim is to give the poorest, most indebted countries a once and for all exit from their debt problems.
Rwanda, Burundi and Zaire
12. Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her estimate of the numbers and needs of the refugees and internally displaced persons who have not yet returned home following the crises in Rwanda, Burundi and Zaire. [324]
Clare Short: UNHCR estimates that 1.5 million people have returned home since January 1996. The airlift to Rwanda continues at about 2,000 people a day. But just under 1 million refugees and internally displaced persons remain in the region. Up to 70,000 may be ex-FAR and Interahamwe involved in the Rwandan genocide. I intend to play an active role in the international effort to resolve these problems.
Aid (Poorest Countries)
13. Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals she has to use a greater proportion of United Kingdom bilateral aid to promote long-term development for the poorest people in the poorest countries. [325]
Clare Short:
I am reviewing existing spending programmes to ensure our resources are directed towards helping the poorest people. But bilateral programmes alone are not sufficient. We must have coherent policies in all areas such as finance, trade and the environment
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which can make a real difference to eliminating poverty. We will set out our strategy in the White Paper promised in the Queen's Speech.
14. Mr. Bernard Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the proportion of United Kingdom gross domestic product devoted to overseas aid. [326]
Clare Short:
Unlike the previous government, we will keep our word. We remain committed to the 0.7 per cent. UN aid/GNP target.
Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans Her Majesty's Government have to increase the level of overseas aid. [321]
Clare Short:
As we promised during the election we will work within existing ceilings this year and next, we are committed to reversing the decline in UK aid spending.
The previous government committed 30-40 per cent. of our aid budget to be spend through the EU. We are determined to ensure this is spent more effectively.
15. Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about current aid support to the Indian sub-continent. [327]
Clare Short:
Britain spent £201 million on bilateral aid to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka in 1995-96. South Asia receives the second largest allocation of British bilateral aid of any region in the world, after sub-Saharan Africa. The overall objective of our assistance programme is to help reduce poverty and promote sustainable development.
16. Ms Maria Eagle:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what are her plans for ensuring that women are included in poverty elimination strategies. [328]
Clare Short:
The evidence is clear that empowering poor women is essential for effective poverty reduction. The education of girls is also a key priority. A commitment to women's development will be a major theme in the forthcoming White Paper.
17. Mr. Hanson:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she intends to next meet United Nations officials to discuss development issues. [329]
Clare Short:
My first meeting will be with UNESCO's Director-General shortly. There will be other important opportunities over the coming months to take forward matters of mutual concern with UN development agencies.
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18. Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she last met her European counterparts to discuss the regulations governing the distribution of Know How and Phare funds. [330]
Clare Short:
I have not yet hand the opportunity to meet with my EU counterparts to discuss these issues. The Know How Fund is a British Government bilateral programme and therefore part of our current review of spending plans. It is independent from the Phare programme, which is subject to EU procedures.
19. Mr. Bennett:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about aid to Bangladesh. [331]
Clare Short:
Bangladesh is, rightly, our second largest development assistance programme. We intend to increase the emphasis on poverty reduction and to support the Government's efforts to accelerate sustainable economic and social development. I hope to visit Bangladesh later this year.
Mr. Gapes:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to provide assistance to the Bihari people living in refugee camps in Bangladesh. [137]
Clare Short:
There are no current plans to provide assistance exclusively for Bihari people living in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Since 1990 HMG has provided bilateral assistance totalling £0.77m for health and education projects involving Bihari communities in Bangladesh. We would hope to see the Biharis increasingly benefiting from more general development programmes run by Government and NGOs.
Ms Hewitt:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what are her plans to promote sustainable development internationally. [332]
Clare Short:
The Government will establish coherent policies to tackle global poverty and promote sustainable development. We will publish a White Paper setting out our future strategy and how we will implement it. Central to the strategy will be greater consistency between our development, trade, agriculture, environment, human rights and economic reform policies.
21. Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she plans to take to assist Cuba. [333]
Clare Short:
We have a small British Partnership Scheme supporting the economic reform process in Cuba, and we contribute to the EC programme there. Over the next few months we shall be conducting a comprehensive review of all our cooperation programmes to ensure that they properly reflect the Government's new development priorities.
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