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Clergy (Employment Rights)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for legislation which will affect the employment rights of clergy. [63711]
Mr. Ian McCartney: The Fairness at Work White Paper contained a proposal for an order making power enabling the Government to extend the coverage of employment legislation to categories of workers not currently covered. It also indicated that the Government would consult fully on specific changes before exercising this power. The position of the clergy is one of the matters to which consideration will be given during the course of this consultative process.
Israel
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the reports he
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has received from the IAEA concerning the (a) Negev Nuclear Research Centre in Dimona, (b) Nahal Soreq, (c) Yodefar, (d) Klar Zokhayra, (e) Eilabin, (f) Haifa (Yelloweake) and (g) Rehovot (Heavy Water) plants in Israel. [62667]
Mr. Battle:
The only Israeli plant subject to IAEA safeguards inspections is Nahal Soreq. The IAEA have published only one report concerning this plant, a 1993 report entitled 'The Radiological Accident in Soreq'. I will be placing a copy of this report in the Library of the House.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the reports he has received from the IAEA concerning the (a) Al Tuwaitha, (b) Al Quan, (c) Al Jesira, (d) Akashot, (e) Al Qa Qaa, (f) Al Athaar, (g) Al Hadre, (h) Roshdiya and (j) Ash Sharqat plants in Iraq. [62666]
Mr. Battle:
The Iraqi Action Team of the IAEA have published twenty-nine reports covering their short-term safeguards inspections in the period 1991-1995. Since then they have published a further six six-monthly consolidated reports. My officials have ordered copies of these reports from the IAEA in Vienna and I will place these in the Library of the House once I have received them in the New Year.
Mr. Sutcliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the provision of regional selective assistance in euros. [64552]
Mr. Mandelson:
With effect from 1 January 1999, recipients of Regional Selective Assistance (in Northern Ireland, Selective Financial Assistance) for internationally mobile investment will be given the option of having their grants denominated in euro where it is to the country's competitive advantage to do so. This will particularly help those companies which trade internationally and who may find it convenient to use the euro a common planning currency. It shows that the UK is well prepared for companies dealing in the euro and will help ensure that the UK remains the most favoured venue for foreign direct investment in the EU.
Terminator Gene Technology
11. Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of terminator gene technology on developing countries. [62753]
Mr. Foulkes: My Department is currently undertaking a wide-ranging review of the implications of all aspects of genetically modified organisms for poor farmers in developing countries.
Our Government are strong supporters of a Bio Safety protocol which would establish standards to regulate the development and release of genetically modified organisations world wide.
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13. Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she has taken to ensure that the objective of sustainability is included in UK aid programmes. [62755]
Clare Short:
Sustainable development is crucial to the elimination of poverty and is central to the Government's policy on international development. My Department applies rigorous procedures to ensure that the projects and programmes we support have clear sustainable outcomes which benefit poor people.
We seek to work in partnership with recipient countries committed to pro-poor policies and explore with them how assistance will be economically and financially sustainable in the long term. This includes promoting effective planning of government expenditure and revenue, reduction of debt to sustainable levels and sustainable use of environmental resources.
14. Mr. Borrow:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the work undertaken by her Department to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV in the developing world. [62756]
18. Angela Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what initiatives her Department has taken to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS in developing countries. [62761]
Clare Short:
We are supporting national programmes in 39 developing countries. We are also working in collaboration with UNAIDS and other UN agencies in co-ordinated efforts. And we are funding research into development of new methods of protection against HIV, providing subsidised contraceptives and programmes to encourage safe sex, and supporting the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine by contributing to the International Aids Vaccine Initiative.
24. Mr. Bradshaw:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department has taken to help prevent the spread of HIV in sub- Saharan Africa. [62767]
Clare Short:
We are working to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV in sub-Saharan Africa through contributions to the work of UNAIDS, the EC and international non-governmental organisations such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation. We have significant programmes with national governments in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We are also funding research into the development of new methods of protection against HIV, providing subsidised contraceptives and programmes to encourage safe sex, and supporting the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine, by contributing to the International Aids Vaccine Initiative.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her Department's budget is allocated to HIV and AIDS projects. [64174]
Clare Short:
In calendar year 1997, 3.6 per cent. of the UK overseas development assistance (£73 million) was invested in reproductive health, excluding expenditure
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through the EC and the World Bank, which we are unable to dis-aggregate. Much of our spending on improving basic healthcare systems will also bring benefits to people with HIV and AIDS. We estimate that around 40 per cent. of this sum was invested in work which related directly to HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the World Bank to increase support for HIV/AIDS vaccine development. [64182]
Clare Short:
My officials meet regularly with counterparts in the World Bank to encourage them in their support for HIV/AIDS vaccine development through International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and other channels. The latest of these meetings took place in Washington in November.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress made on establishing an HIV/AIDS vaccine purchase fund. [64183]
Clare Short:
The World Bank is considering how best to establish a global HIV/AIDS vaccine purchase fund for the long term benefit of the poorest, most affected countries. Consultations continue with Governments and a range of profit and not-for-profit groups such as the International Aids Vaccine Initiative. Britain is committed to supporting the development of a safe and effective vaccine and to creating the conditions which make it affordable and accessible to affected developing countries.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list (a) by project and (b) by country the (i) HIV and AIDS and (ii) education projects her Department supports. [64180]
Clare Short:
We provide direct support for HIV/AIDS activities in 39 Countries, intensively in ten of these. A list will be placed in the Library of the House. It does not include HIV/AIDS activities supported through multilateral institutions such as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the World Bank and World Health Organisation (WHO), all of whom receive funding from the British Government.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the Governments of G8 countries to support the International Aids Vaccine Initiative. [64179]
Clare Short:
We regularly encourage G8 counterparts to contribute to HIV/AIDS vaccine development through International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). We took the latest opportunity available for us in the margins of a meeting last week of the UNAIDS Programme Co-ordinating Board in Delhi.
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