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Birmingham Northern Relief Road
Mr. John M. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future roads programme with particular reference to the M6 Birmingham northern relief road. [9604]
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Ms Glenda Jackson:
I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister Transport on 19 June 1997, Official Report, column 278-79.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government are taking to protect the marine environment of the Atlantic frontier from contamination from oil drill cuttings and muds during current and future offshore oil exploration and production. [8988]
Mr. Battle:
We are committed to reduce the discharge of oil-contaminated drill cuttings from offshore installations. From 1 January this year, an effective ban was imposed upon the discharge of these cuttings where oil-based mud is used. A phased reduction of discharges of most "synthetic" oil-based muds should result in their elimination from the UK continental shelf by the end of 2000.
Street Children
10. Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government are doing to promote schemes to help solve the problems of street children. [8365]
Mr. Foulkes: We are deeply concerned by the severe problems faced by street children who are often abused and made to work in appalling conditions or forced into prostitution. In addition to tackling the root cause, namely poverty, we support practical initiatives, providing viable alternatives to their existing means of survival. In addition to support through our bilateral programmes, the Department for International Development is supporting non-governmental organisation projects such as the Consortium for Street Children UK.
Women's Education
11. Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary for State for International Development what steps she is taking to widen educational opportunity for women in developing countries. [8366]
Mr. Foulkes: All our basic education projects aim to improve access for girls to education and to raise the levels of female literacy. We will increase the proportion of the aid budget spent on poverty-focused projects which include education projects such as our increase in aid to Africa in these areas by 50 per cent. over the next three years.
Strategic Defence Review
12. Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's contribution to the strategic defence review. [8367]
13. Mr. Gray:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what role her Department will play in the strategic defence review. [8370]
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Clare Short:
We are contributing to the review. Conflict prevention is an important part of the work of my Department and is clearly relevant to the review.
14. Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her Department's policy towards the goal of global free trade. [8371]
Clare Short:
I have already made it clear, and spelled out in a recent speech at the Institute of Directors, that we will work for an international trading environment that facilities the full integration of developing countries into the world trading system.
15. Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the heavily indebted poor countries initiative. [8372]
Clare Short:
It is, of course, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer who leads on these issues. The Chancellor and I are strongly committed to working together to achieve speedy implementation of the heavily indebted poor countries initiative. Uganda has already qualified and we expect several other countries to be considered in the coming months. We believe the debt initiative to be an important element in our strategy to eradicate poverty.
16. Mr. Mullin:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her Department's current policy on aid to Cambodia; and if she will make a statement. [8373]
Mr. Foulkes:
We are continuing our programme, while keeping political developments under careful review. Our programme aims to reduce poverty and promote human development by supporting projects in health education, urban poverty and land mine clearance.
17. Mr. Singh:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had regarding the progress of her Department's work in Bosnia. [8374]
Clare Short:
I have had many discussions about my Department's work in Bosnia, with my representations of other government and international organised officials. We are determined to do all we can to achieve full implementation of Dayton and to make our assistance strictly conditioned on co-operation with Dayton.
18. Mr. Ennis:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the priority to be given to future assistance to the United Kingdom's dependent territories. [8375]
Clare Short:
The future assistance needs of the dependent territories will continue to be a priority for the Government. We are currently reviewing our policy and will set out our conclusions in the forthcoming White Paper.
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19. Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what policies she plans to initiate or develop on a Commonwealth-wide basis. [8376]
Clare Short:
The Government believe that the Commonwealth has the potential to play an important role in tackling a wide range of global issues. The forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Edinburgh will provide an opportunity to develop Commonwealth-wide initiatives in areas such as economic reform, trade, investment and human rights. Work has already begun in these areas as part of the preparation for this meeting.
20. Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports she has received concerning the number of women compulsorily sterilised or forced to undergo abortions in China through population control programmes supported by her Department. [8377]
Clare Short:
I am aware of reports of compulsory sterilisation and abolition in China. The Department for International Development does not provide aid in support of China's population programmes. It does contribute--along with all other major donors--to the United Nations Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation, both of which work in China. Both conduct their programmes on principles opposed to any form of coercion in family planning. These organisations play an important role in promoting positive change in the implementation of population programmes in China.
21. Mr. Wells:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what will be the annual cost of UNESCO membership. [8378]
Clare Short:
Our contribution for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997 will be around £5 million, to be met from the contingency reserve. Future annual contributions are estimated at £11 million and will be considered in the next resources round.
22. Miss Kirkbride:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to demining organisations. [8379]
23. Mr. Robathan:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department gives to organisations clearing mines. [8380]
Clare Short:
The UK has committed over £31 million--including our share of European Community programmes--to humanitarian mine clearance activities since 1991.
Our current projects focus on the needs of vulnerable communities in the poorest and most severely affected countries. Resources are channelled through specialised non-governmental organisations and UN agencies. We are supporting efforts to speed up detection and clearance
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through improved technology but maintaining the high standards of reliability and safety required for humanitarian demining.
We also support capacity building for national and community-based demining activities to increase levels of participation in affected countries.
24. Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the prospects for social and economic development in the west bank and Gaza strip. [8381]
Clare Short:
Palestinian living standards have fallen substantially since the Oslo process began, largely due to the effects of border closures. The west bank and Gaza has the potential for rapid economic growth, but its social and economic development will continue to be constrained until there is an equitable settlement of the peace process.
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