| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Genetically Modified Foods
18. Mr. Khabra: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the impact of genetically modified foods in developing countries. [85992]
Clare Short:
We are planning to commission a study of the costs and benefits to the livelihoods of poor people in developing countries arising from so-called "terminator" gene technologies. We are helping to fund an assessment by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics of the risks to biodiversity of introducing transgenic pigeonpea cultivars into traditional cropping systems in India and are also funding an analysis of the impact in the Philippines of genetically male fish (tilapia).
16 Jun 1999 : Column: 177
19. Mr. Alan W. Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received on the recent report by Christian Aid on food and genetic engineering. [85993]
Clare Short:
I have not received any representations on the recent report by Christian Aid on food and genetic engineering. I have received a number of letters from the public expressing concerns about genetic engineering.
My officials recently held a consultation meeting with representatives from 10 non-governmental organisations, including a representative from Christian Aid, on our policy on GMOs and developing countries. This provided an opportunity to clarify the approach outlined in our published briefing note and to emphasise that the principle which guides all our activities is poverty elimination. The discussions were very constructive and helpful.
20. Mr. Watts:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's actions to help with reconstruction in the Central American countries affected by Hurricane Mitch. [85994]
Clare Short:
Our contribution to the initial phase of reconstruction has totalled £4.2 million. In addition to immediate emergency assistance, we have provided grants to the United Nations Children's Fund for emergency repairs to water and sanitation infrastructure and to restore primary health and education services. We also provided funds for a programme of emergency repairs and rehabilitation to rural roads and bridges, and a cash for work incentive targeting particularly neglected municipalities. Regionally we have given grants to the Pan-American Health Organisation to support national health authorities, particularly for epidemic control, and to the United Nations Development Programme to support co-ordination.
Following our recommendation, the World Bank set up a Trust Fund to help countries affected by Hurricane Mitch meet their debt service payments to international financial institutions. We committed £10 million to this purpose. Bilateral Governments have also agreed to forgo debt repayments for the next two years.
In the long term we plan to spend some £6 million in the region over the next two years on measures to help with the long term reconstruction. This will include projects in health, capacity building and disaster prevention.
21. Mr. Bill O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the economic position of small farmers in the Caribbean who are dependent on the banana crop. [85995]
Clare Short:
We fully recognise the considerable uncertainty and concern among banana farmers in the Caribbean as a result of recent World Trade Organisation ruling. We are collaborating closely with the European Commission and other member states to try to identify new trading arrangements which, with the endorsement of the different parties involved, will hold out the prospect of a viable future for a restructured Caribbean banana
16 Jun 1999 : Column: 178
industry. This exercise is complex, given the range of different interests involved. We are continuing to consult closely with Caribbean Governments in the search for an acceptable solution. We are also actively involved, with the EC, in encouraging and supporting the necessary local restructuring of the banana industry to enable it to compete under a new regime.
22. Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to extend awareness of information technology in developing countries. [85996]
Clare Short:
We are promoting awareness and the effective and appropriate use of information technology in developing countries as an integral part of many of our mainstream development projects, especially in the fields of education and governance. We also play an active role in the key multilateral initiatives addressing this issue.
23. Angela Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of future prospects for the Commonwealth Development Corporation in Cuba. [85997]
Clare Short:
The Commonwealth Development Corporation has been working in Cuba since 1996, and we expect it to continue to do so. The focus of its work will continue to be on its financing business, undertaken as a joint venture with a local bank, which is expanding its activities. CDC will also look for equity investment opportunities on a selective basis.
25. Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the role of the IMF in leading the international community's efforts to help poor countries meet the 2015 international development targets. [85999]
Clare Short:
Following last year's review of the IMF's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility, it was agreed that the IMF should take more account of the social impact of their programmes, consider the quality of Government expenditure and protect budgets in high priority areas such as health and education. We are encouraging the IMF to work more closely with the World Bank to ensure that, in designing structural adjustment programmes, they take account of the impact on the poor. Following proposals put forward by the UK, the World Bank is developing good practices of social policy, in consultation with the IMF. We envisage that these principles will be drawn upon by the World Bank and the IMF in the design of programmes. We continually emphasise the need for the IMF to build consensus for reform programmes, through discussion and consultation with civil society, so that they lead to economic growth which benefits the poor.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial or other
16 Jun 1999 : Column: 179
assistance has been provided by her Department for the Porta Farm Development near Harare, Zimbabwe. [85990]
Clare Short:
Through our Small Grants Scheme, we have provided £3,700 for construction of classrooms for pre-school and primary school children, and improved water and sanitation facilities at Porta Farm.
Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has for provision for the Kosovar refugees during the winter; and if she will make a statement. [85978]
Clare Short:
The UNHCR is the internationally designated lead agency responsible for co-ordinating provision for the refugees from Kosovo and also for the return of the refugees to Kosovo. We have worked to try to support and improve their efforts. We have provided £40 million of assistance to date and on Monday we announced a further £50 million to support the process of return to Kosovo. Details of our spending which has been channelled through the most effective agencies are available in the Library. Provision is being made for the advent of winter conditions from October onwards.
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those schools which have received (a) a Sportsmark and (b) an additional Gold Star award since May 1997. [86694]
Mr. Chris Smith:
I am very pleased to say that over a thousand schools have now achieved a Sportsmark or Sportsmark Gold award. A full list of successful schools has today been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to extend the Sportsmark scheme to primary schools. [86693]
Mr. Chris Smith:
We have no plans to extend the specific Sportsmark scheme to primary schools. However, Sport England are currently working on an Activity award for primary schools. The scheme will give national recognition to schools offering a quality programme of physical activity. They hope to introduce the award during the autumn term 1999.
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the net effect on the balance of payments of British visitors going abroad and overseas visitors coming to the United Kingdom in (a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998. [86697]
Janet Anderson:
The Office for National Statistics has estimated, using data from the International Passenger Survey and other sources, that the direct contribution to the UK balance of payments arising from tourism activities is as shown in the table. This is not a full account of the balance of payments effects of tourism,
16 Jun 1999 : Column: 180
which would need to include, for example, overseas trade in tourism goods and the international investment flows of tourism companies.
| £ million | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | |
| Exports: earnings from overseas visitors to UK | 13,770 | 13,805 | 14,432 |
| Imports: expenditure by UK residents going abroad | 16,729 | 17,402 | 20,008 |
| Balance of trade in services | -2,959 | -3,597 | -5,576 |
Source:
Office for National Statistics 1996, 1997, 1998.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |