| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Cambodia
Mr. Goodlad: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid programmes for Cambodia are currently in place; and what are her future plans for aid to Cambodia. [8699]
Clare Short [holding answer 15 July 1997]: Under our bilateral development programme, which will be worth some £3 million in 1997-98, we are supporting projects in health, education, urban poverty and landmine clearance.
In health, we are financing four projects designed to improve Cambodian capacity to deliver basic health services to poorer people, improve reproductive health especially for women, reduce malaria and slow the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. In education, we are helping to improve the teaching of English in secondary schools and funding the preparation of a master plan for teacher training. In urban poverty, we are funding a UN project designed to improve physical and social conditions for poor people in Phnom Penh. We are also contributing with other donors to a UN Trust Fund which finances landmine clearance.
In addition, under our Joint Funding Scheme, we are helping to finance the programmes of a number of British Non-Governmental Organisations involved in areas such as health, community development, landmine clearance and support for landmine victims.
We are obviously concerned by recent events in Cambodia and will be monitoring the situation there closely through the British Embassy. The FCO has advised UK nationals to leave Cambodia, but our understanding is that most UK aid staff intend to stay. Given that our programme is designed to help poorer people in Cambodia, we propose to maintain it.
As the UK delegation at the recent Cambodia Consultative Group meeting in Paris made clear, future commitments of government to government assistance will depend not only on political stability, but also on the Cambodian Government's performance on the rule of law, transparent financial management and forestry policy. A key factor will be progress towards free and fair democratic elections scheduled for 1998.
16 Jul 1997 : Column: 193
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what new plans she has to introduce cuts and savings in her Department as a result of the effect on her Department's budgets for 1997-98 and 1998-99 of the upward revisions to the GDP deflators in the Budget on 2 July; and if she will make a statement. [8314]
Clare Short
[holding answer 14 July 1997]: All Departments are reallocating spending within their Departmental ceilings as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Mr. Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if, following the recent Budget, she will give her estimate of the total real level of her Department's budget, in 1995-96 prices, in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99; if she will estimate what such figures were for (1) 1997-98 and (2) 1998-99 following the November 1996 Budget on the basis of the estimates of the GDP deflator contained in that Budget; and if she will make a statement. [8313]
Clare Short
[holding answer 14 July 1997]: The figures requested for my Department's spending plans within the Control Total are as follows: (a) £2,071 million, (b) £2,140 million, (1) £2,120 million, (2) £2,177 million.
The figures for 1997-98 have not been adjusted to take account of the Summer Supplementary Estimates presented to Parliament on 8 July but not yet approved.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) on what dates since 1 May (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have attended meetings with organisations representing (i) commercial and (ii) non-commercial interests organised by commercial lobbying firms; and if she will introduce a register of such meetings; [8084]
Clare Short:
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained in response to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn), Official Report, 2 June 1997, column 99, Ministers and officials in the Department receive deputations from many groups who are concerned to press their own interests or those of their clients, which Ministers and officials take due care to consider within the wider public interest and Government policy. The Department keeps normal records of such meetings. It is not practicable to distinguish particular groups as lobbyists, nor is it practicable to keep a register of such meetings.
Mr. Alasdair Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the value of Know How consultancy contracts in each year since the
16 Jul 1997 : Column: 194
scheme was established; and what value of such contracts was awarded in each year to companies headquartered in Scotland. [8286]
Clare Short
[holding answer 15 July 1997]: Information on Know How consultancy contracts awarded before 1992-93 is not centrally recorded and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The value of such contracts let in the United Kingdom from 1992-93 was:
(2) on what dates since 1 May (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have met commercial lobbyists to discuss matters relating to the business of her Department; and if she will introduce a register of such meetings. [8083]
| Total value | |
|---|---|
| Financial year | £ |
| 1992-93 | 27,709,426 |
| 1993-94 | 55,965,059 |
| 1994-95 | 59,220,754 |
| 1995-96 | 49,322,326 |
| 1996-97 | 85,072,905 |
| 1997-98 (to date) | 16,929,706 |
Contracts awarded to companies with headquarters in Scotland are not recorded separately.
Development Assistance
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if it is the Government's policy that the United Kingdom should continue to give development assistance to Commonwealth countries which are in clear breach of the Harare Declaration. [8581]
Clare Short [holding answer 15 July 1997]: The UK Government's objective is the achievement of human rights for all people. We welcome and support the Commonwealth's commitment to the high standards set out in the Harare Declaration. A government's commitment to human rights will therefore be taken into account when decisions are made on development cooperation. My department will focus in its main efforts on promoting the rights essential for eliminating poverty and for achieving sustainable livelihoods and dignity for disadvantaged people in poor countries. This will frequently include aspects of good government and improved institutions. We will work in partnership with government, NGOs and civil society.
Kenya
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much bilateral development assistance her Department plans to spend in the Republic of Kenya in the years 1997-98 and 1998--99. [8580]
Clare Short
[holding answer 15 July 1997]: Total bilateral aid expenditure is currently expected to be about £30 million in the 1997-98 financial year. It is not possible to predict the size of the programme for 1998-99 in advance of the annual Resource Allocation Round. But the level of assistance will take account of our current policy review of international development and the extent to which Britain can work in partnership with the Government of Kenya, as well as the private sector and NGOs, to reduce poverty in Kenya.
16 Jul 1997 : Column: 195
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what changes she plans in her policy on giving development assistance to the Republic of Kenya following the recent suppression of democracy activists. [8582]
Clare Short
[holding answer 15 July 1997]: The Government has made clear its concern about recent events in Kenya and its wish to see free and fair elections.
We will continue to urge the Government of Kenya to promote policies which demonstrate a clear commitment to the reduction of poverty. Our future policies will reflect the extent to which the Kenya Government is able to demonstrate a willingness to pursue pro-poor economic growth, more accountable government and greater respect of human rights and the rule of law.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the role of organic produce in assisting (a) Caribbean countries and (b) other developing countries to increase their international trade; and if she will make a statement. [8735]
Clare Short:
I am keen to explore the potential for organic production in developing countries. My Department has seconded an agricultural specialist to the Delegation of the European Commission in the Eastern Caribbean to serve as Donor Co-ordinator to the Banana Industry. The Co-ordinator is working with Government and banana industry representatives on how the Windward Islands might best respond to any proposed erosion of the preferential trade agreement for bananas with the European Union. This agreement comes to an end in 2002. A range of options are being considered for improving the quality of Windward Islands' bananas and to identify niche markets.
Some Caribbean producers are beginning to take an interest in organic exports. The European Commission is helping farmers in the Windward Islands to consider the potential of organic production.
16 Jul 1997 : Column: 196
My Department recently commissioned a study from the Henry Doubleday Research Association and Coventry University on the potential for further development of organic agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. This study concluded that in the short-term there is limited scope for small-scale farmers in Kenya and Ghana to export organic produce. I will place a copy of this report in the Library of the House once it is finalised.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |