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UNIDO
Mr. Goodlad: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what will be the cost to UK public funds of UNIDO membership in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99. [7867]
Clare Short: The UK contribution for 1997 was £3.8 million. The amount required for the 1998-99 biennium will be determined by the budget approved by member states at the December 1997 General Conference.
Nigeria
Mr. Goodlad: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from British banks concerning her Department's projects in Nigeria. [8011]
Clare Short: My Department has not received any representations from British banks concerning our projects in Nigeria.
Jordan
Mr. Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from British banks concerning her Department's projects in Jordan. [8012]
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Clare Short:
None, but British banks have given a series of seminars for Jordanian bankers funded by Department For International Development and organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
Mr. Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has for setting up a development educational council. [7870]
Clare Short:
I am currently reviewing my Department's communications strategy, including development education, and will make an announcement in due course.
Mr. Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects her Department to introduce a code of conduct for transnational companies operating in developing countries. [7832]
Clare Short:
There is increasing support in the business community for the adoption of voluntary codes of conduct which set minimum labour and environmental standards. My Department is facilitating discussions on these issues and those of ethical trading with business and NGOs. We expect to be able to present further proposals in the Development White Paper in the autumn.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Development is taking to increase the level of UK aid spending. [8315]
Clare Short:
As I have repeatedly made clear and as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has confirmed the Government are committed to raising the levels of overseas aid. We have also made it clear that we will work within existing financial ceilings this year and next while redirecting our spending towards the objective of eliminating poverty. As we demonstrate progress, I hope additional resources will be made available in line with our manifesto commitment.
Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will set a target date for the United Kingdom to reach the target of 0.7 per cent. of GDP for overseas aid spending. [7837]
Clare Short:
As I have repeatedly made clear, we are firmly committed to the 0.7 UN aid/GNP target and to reversing the decline in UK aid spending but have not set a target date.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the extension to a decade of the UN International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. [7926]
Clare Short:
We welcome the International Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) as a means to focus efforts on addressing the root causes of poverty. I hope the IDEP will foster an increased understanding that poverty
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eradication is fundamental to reinforcing peace and achieving sustainable development for the world as a whole.
Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the number of United Kingdom jobs dependent on the link between trade and overseas aid. [7569]
Clare Short:
Information is not available in the form requested. Development assistance helps to support jobs in the United Kingdom in several ways. Its key contribution is promoting economic growth in poorer countries. One in five UK exports goes to such countries. Some of the development assistance provided by donors offers procurement opportunities to competitive UK companies.
12. Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Eurofighter. [6518]
27. Mr. Alan Keen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his proposals for production of Eurofighter. [6533]
28. Mr. Forth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for the purchase of the Eurofighter for the Royal Air Force of the outcomes of (a) the defence review and (b) the Government's fundamental expenditure review. [6534]
Mr. George Robertson:
The Government remain strongly committed to Eurofighter. The development programme is proceeding very satisfactorily. We are ready to sign the Memoranda of Understanding for the production and support phases and I hope that as a result of the positive outcome from German Cabinet discussion last Friday, final German approval can be secured in the Bundestag in Autumn.
13. Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are being taken to facilitate joint training, interoperability and other harmonisation measures between United Kingdom forces and countries that are applicants for NATO membership. [6519]
Dr. Reid:
My Department's Outreach programme of bilateral co-operation with central and eastern European countries comprises a wide range of training and advisory measures. Outreach supports NATO's Partnership for Peace initiative, which seeks to prepare applicants for NATO membership and to enhance interoperability between NATO and all of the countries of the region.
15. Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the length of stay of British Forces in Bosnia.[6521]
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Mr. George Robertson:
British Forces will remain in Bosnia until the end of the stabilisation force's mandate in June 1998.
16. Ms Christine Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the action taken by his Department in respect of anti-personnel land mines. [6522]
Mr. George Robertson:
On 21 May we announced that we would ban all trade in anti-personnel land mines involving the United Kingdom--that is, their import, export, transfer and manufacture. We also introduced a complete moratorium on their operational use. We will phase out our stocks of such land mines by 2005 at the latest.
17. Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of how satisfactorily troops established, trained and equipped for peacekeeping operations can be adapted for high-intensity conflict. [6523]
Dr. Reid:
Experience in the Gulf and Bosnia suggests that high quality, well trained and well equipped forces are needed for both peacekeeping and high intensity warfare. We will evaluate this during the Strategic Defence Review, when we will be looking at how we should deliver the capabilities needed to meet all of our essential security interests and defence needs.
18. Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the Strategic Defence Review; and if he will make a statement. [6524]
Mr. George Robertson:
We will make maximum use of existing structures to conduct the Strategic Defence Review. Additional costs will be incurred, including in the process of consultation with outside experts and interest groups. It is too early to predict the total additional cost.
23. Mr. David Davis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether decisions announced at the end of his defence review in respect of (a) Eurofighter aircraft, (b) the Trident submarine programme and (c) Nimrod 2000 will also be subject to the outcome of the Government's fundamental expenditure review. [6529]
Mr. Spellar:
There will be one coherent review of defence. The Strategic Defence Review will be the Ministry of Defence's contribution to the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Sir Sydney Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with the Strategic Defence Review, with particular reference to his proposals to set up a panel of experts. [6689]
Dr. Reid:
Work on the Strategic Defence Review is continuing, taking account of the many outside inputs received. The advisory panel of experts has not yet been formed. We expect to announce the names of members later in the summer.
14 Jul 1997 : Column: 52
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has met trades unions for consultation on the Strategic Defence Review. [6757]
Dr. Reid:
Discussions with trades unions on the Strategic Defence Review are being conducted through the usual consultation mechanisms. In addition, representatives of the trades unions attended the two Strategic Defence Review Seminars on 3 and 11 July.
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