Supplementary Memorandum by the Comptroller
and Auditor General
1. My report on this subject, HC 13 of Session
1997-98, was published on 30 May. At the request of the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office, my report excluded reference to a number
of issues which I am bringing to the attention of the Committee
of Public Accounts by means of a separate confidential memorandum.
2. In view of other events which have taken
place since my report was published, I thought that it would be
helpful for the Committee to be informed of the main developments.
This memorandum, which I have agreed with the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office and the Department for International Development deals
with those issues not covered by my confidential memorandum.
Montserrat
3. On 25 June the Soufrière Hills
volcano on Montserrat made a further major eruption, resulting
in the deaths of 20 people. The volcano continues to be active;
there are frequent explosions but there is no clear pattern to
them. The Department for International Development helped to finance
emergency measures such as the setting up of communications equipment,
the maintenance of fuel and food supplies and sanitation.
4. The population is now confined to the
northern part of the island. In June 1997 £6.5 million was
allocated to help build emergency housing there for those left
homeless. To date 50 of the planned 250 prefabricated housing
units have been completed and are ready for occupation. A further
50 are due for completion by mid-December. Costs for constructing
the housing have escalated and DFID are reconsidering their options
for the 150 remaining.
5. In the light of the increasing dangers
to the people of Montserrat, and of the other problems of living
on the island, the UK Government established a voluntary evacuation
scheme. This involved financial support of up to £2,400 per
person plus the cost of air fares to other islands in the region.
Assisted passages to the UK were also offered. By October 1997
the UK Government had committeed £45.8 million to help the
Government of Montserrat to deal with the disaster, of which £30
million has so far been spent.
6. The UK Government's emphasis has been
to keep Montserrat as a viable island. In September 1997 the UK
Government reaffirmed that it was committed to maintaining a viable
community in the north of the island as long as it was safe for
people to live there. This involved providing essential facilities
including health care, education, utilities and communications.
7. About 4,000 people are still on Montserrat,
although some are still leaving. Because of the high volume of
volcanic dust in the atmosphere, they are subject to long-term
exposure to silicosis. Following a visit to the island the UK's
Chief Medical Officer has recommended that a Health Co-ordinator
take charge of the management of the island's public health.
8. The West Indies Guardship, HMS Liverpool,
ordinarily remains within 48 hours of Montserrat, ready to provide
assistance if required. A military planning team visited the island
in October 1997 as part of a review of the UK's emergency evacuation
plan. A feasibility study is to be conducted with a view to building
a new airstrip.
Dependent Territories Review
9. In the light of my report and of other
recent developments, the Government put in hand a wide-ranging
review of the Dependent Territories in August 1997. This review
is being led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Its aim is
to identify solutions to the problems of each of the Dependent
Territories and to demonstrate the UK's continuing commitment
to them. The conclusions of this review are expected in February
1998.
St Helena
10. In July Lord Iveagh introduced a Bill
into the House of Lords which would extend British Citizenship
to the inhabitants of St Helena. The Bill passed its second reading
in the House of Lords on 23 October. The Government line, pending
the outcome of the Dependent Territories Review, is not to support
the Bill.
National Audit Office
27 November 1997
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