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International Conference on Population and
Development
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the members of the United Kingdom Government delegations to (a) the International forum on the five year review of the International Conference on Population and Development in The Hague, 8 to 12 February, (b) the Preparatory Committee meeting in New York, 23 March to 1 April and (c) the UN General Assembly Special Session on the ICPD review in New York, 30 June to 3 July; and if she will make a statement. [83576]
Mr. Foulkes: The United Kingdom Government delegations were made up as follows:
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Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support has been received from British industry in establishing easily accessed communications systems for refugees in the camps of Macedonia and Albania. [83769]
Mr. Foulkes:
The International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other international agencies are seeking to ensure that refugees and displaced people in the camps have regular access to satellite, mobile and fixed phones as appropriate in order to re-establish family contacts. Where my department has received offers of support from British industry, they have been referred to these agencies.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made in giving deportees in camps in Macedonia and Albania access to phones with which they can try to establish contact with lost friends, family and relatives. [83770]
Mr. Foulkes:
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) leads on family tracing and reunification; ICRC, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international agencies are seeking to ensure that refugees and displaced people in the camps have regular access to satellite, mobile and fixed phones as appropriate in order to re-establish family contacts. The Department for International Development has contributed £2.5 million to ICRC, of which part will be used for family tracing.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to support the work of (a) UNICEF and (b) other non- Governmental organisations with their family tracing schemes in the Balkans. [83768]
Mr. Foulkes:
Reuniting separated families is an important part of our humanitarian assistance. Part of DFID's contributions of £2.25 million to United Nations children's Fund UNICEF and £2.5 million to the Red Cross are being used for family tracing activities. This will help Kosovar refugees to establish where their relatives have gone, and also to contact family members who have been sent to other countries without their consent.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for her Department. [82832]
Mr. Foulkes:
Following last July's Integrated Transport White Paper, which set targets for the introduction of green transport plans for Government departments, we will shortly complete the plan for our London headquarters building.
We are also developing a plan for our other key building in East Kilbride in line with the target for March 2000 set in the Integrated Transport White Paper.
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Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects
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funded by her Department to support communities working to eradicate female genital mutilation. [83578]
Mr. Foulkes:
Current DFID supported projects which address female genital mutilation comprise the following:
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(a) ICPD Hague Forum, 8-12 February, 1999:
George Foulkes MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DFID.
Professor John Hobcraft, London School of Economics, Special Adviser.
Ms Sandra Kabir, NGO Representative.
Six DFID officials (varying lengths of attendance).
(b) Preparatory Committee--ICPD+5, New York, 23 March-1 April 1999:
Professor John Hobcraft, London School of Economics, Special Adviser.
Ms Sandra Kabir, NGO Representative.
Ms Dilys Cossey, Parliamentary Adviser.
Five DFID officials (varying lengths of attendance).
(c) The Secretary of State intends to lead the delegation to the UN General Assembly Special Session on ICPD in New York, 30 June-2 July 1999. The remainder of the delegation has yet to be finalised.
| Countries/region | Project |
|---|---|
| Gambia | Women's Health Promotion--Genital Mutilation. It aims to mobilise communities in two districts for health promotion activities focusing on FGM. A total of £226,013 was committed. |
| Horn of Africa | Well woman media project to improve the reproductive health status of the people of the Somali speaking areas of the Horn of Africa, increasing the capacity of women to practise and enjoy safe sexual relationships and reducing FGM. A total of £200,000 was committed. |
| Burkina Faso | Health an Human Rights Approach to Overcoming Traditional Practices Harmful to Women. A total of £150,000 was committed. |
| Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Cameroon | Development of training materials and training of health care providers on FGM prevention and the management of health complications related to FGM. A total of £140,000 was committed. |
| Africa | Production and dissemination of a research manual. A total of £8,000 was committed. |
| Africa | Support to strengthen the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices in order to reduce the morbidity rates of women and children through FGM eradication working at the national, regional and international levels. A total of £400,000 has been allocated. |
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Commonwealth Debt Initiative
Ms Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress of the Commonwealth Debt Initiative, indicating which countries have received debt relief and the level of that relief. [83404]
Mr. Foulkes: Under the Government's Commonwealth Debt Initiative, we provide debt relief to poorer Commonwealth countries which are committed to the international development targets and are following sound economic policies which benefit the poor, which promote responsive and accountable government, encourage transparency and bear down on corruption. Since the Chancellor of the Exchequer launched the Initiative in September 1997, my Department has provided debt relief on aid loans to the following countries:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| Barbados | 0.23 |
| Belize | 1.15 |
| Dominica | 6.60 |
| Grenada | 3.31 |
| Jamaica | 12.80 |
| Mauritius | 1.10 |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | 0.43 |
| St. Lucia | 2.83 |
| Solomon Islands | 4.38 |
| Tonga | 0.44 |
| Turks and Caicos | 1.88 |
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Local Authority Spending
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the local authorities to which Ministers have written urging greater spending on local services within their portfolio area. [77957]
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Mr. Alan Howarth
[holding answer 22 March 1999]: None. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to all 149 Library Authorities in England in February 1999 drawing their attention to their statutory obligation to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. It is a possibility, but by no means a certainty, that in some instances Library Authorities would need to spend more money to fulfil their statutory duty.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will establish a grant for museums to be set up in constituencies which are without them; and if he will make a statement on his Department's activities during Museums Week. [83568]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
Historically, local museums relate to local authority areas which may cover several constituencies. Boundaries of constituencies change from time to time. What is important is that each community should have access to a local museum.
There are already some 2,500 museums in the UK, and it is the Government's priority to increase access to these museums, rather than to create new ones.
The Museums and Galleries Commission funds the network of Area Museum Councils in England which contributes to the funding of a number of museums and galleries. The Heritage Lottery Fund also provides funding for museums and galleries.
My Department has contributed £25,000 towards Museums Week 1999, which is a key annual event in raising public awareness of museums in the UK. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to all MPs and MEPs encouraging them to visit a museum in their constituency to promote the event.
Last year's event was a great success, and I hope that this year's will prove even more successful.
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