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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 21 February 2000
PRIME MINISTER
World Food Programme
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what inquiries he has made as to the reasons for the resignation of the head of the World Food Programme. [111230]
Ilisu Dam
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister for Small Business and E-Commerce of 15 February 2000, Official Report, column 172WH, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Ilisu Dam on water suppliers and shortage in Iraq. [111229]
The Prime Minister: The arrangements to be proposed by the relevant Turkish authorities for ensuring that adequate downstream water flows will be maintained at all times will be assessed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) as part of its underwriting consideration of this project. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has indicated that this is one of the key concerns he wishes to see addressed before any decision about ECGD support for the project.
Section 28
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral statement of 9 February 2000, Official Report, column 241, on section 28, what were the grounds for his statement that section 28 has not applied to schools since 1994. [111047]
The Prime Minister: Following the changes introduced by the Education Act 1993, which made sex education mandatory in secondary schools, the previous Government issued (in May 1994) Circular 5/94 "Sex Education in Schools". The Circular stated that section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 applied to
- "the activities of local authorities themselves, as distinct from the activities of the governing bodies and staff of schools on their own behalf".
Iraq
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what consultation the Secretary-General of the United Nations had with the United Kingdom Government about the health and food situation in Iraq, before accepting the resignation of the senior UN representative in Baghdad responsible for co-ordinating humanitarian aid; and if he will make a statement. [111235]
The Prime Minister: None. UN staffing issues are a matter for the UN Secretary-General.
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Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 16 February 2000, Official Report, columns 562-63W, concerning the Iraqi Government's prioritising of the humanitarian assistance, what the Government defines as prioritising properly the humanitarian assistance available under the oil-for-food programme. [111234]
The Prime Minister: In his regular reports on the implementation of the oil-for-food programme, the UN Secretary-General has repeatedly recommended that priority must be given to the food/nutrition and health sectors. In his most recent report of November 1999, he again stated that the Government of Iraq needed to give greater attention to the provision of basic pharmaceuticals, primary and preventive health-care services and material support for more effective distribution.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 16 February 2000, Official Report, columns 562-63W, concerning child nutrition and mortality in Iraq, what is the raft of measures referred to in his answer. [111232]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to operative paragraphs 15-32 of Security Council Resolution 1284, a copy of which is available from the Library.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 16 February 2000, Official Report, columns 562-63W, concerning the Iraqi Government's prioritising of humanitarian assistance, what priorities the Iraqi Government have set out under the oil-for-food programme. [111233]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the distribution plan submitted by Iraq to the UN Secretary General for the current phase of the oil-for-food programme. This information is available on the United Nations website from the following url: www.un.org/Departments/oip/dp7pdf/dp7exesum.htm .
Departmental Functions (Food)
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister if all food served at his Office's official functions meets the standards of production required of domestic producers. [109790]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 February 2000]: All food served at official functions in my Office is obtained from suppliers who are required to meet the necessary legal requirements.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the names of the European Commissioners he has met since 1 August 1999 and the dates on which the meetings took place. [108868]
The Prime Minister: The information requested is as follows:
| Date | European Commissioner |
|---|---|
| 12 August 1999 | Romano Prodi |
| 15 October 1999 | Romano Prodi |
| 21 October 1999 | Neil Kinnock |
| 3 December 1999 | Neil Kinnock |
I have also spoken to President Prodi and Commissioner Byrne on a number of occasions by telephone.
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Council of Europe/WEU Delegation
Mr. Savidge: To ask the Prime Minister what changes there are in the composition of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of the Western European Union. [111160]
The Prime Minister: My hon. Friends the Members for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) and for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) have been appointed as substitute members in place of my hon. Friends the Members for Cannock Chase (Dr. Wright) and for North-West Leicestershire (Mr. Taylor).
Post Office Network
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Prime Minister when the Performance and Innovation Unit's study into the future of the Post Office network will be published. [110837]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders) on 17 January 2000, Official Report, column 267W.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
East Timor
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department has provided to East Timor for small-scale agriculture, public health and education since November 1999; and what plans she has for immediate further assistance. [110490]
Clare Short: Since November 1999 we have provided £100,000 to CARE for an Emergency Agricultural Rehabilitation Programme; £625,000 to United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for programmes in water and sanitation, education and social services and protection of women and children; and £100,000 to the World Health Organisation to strengthen and expand their role in public health co-ordination.
We have recently agreed to provide a further £1.4 million in immediate assistance through the United Nations Transitional Administration for East Timor (UNTAET) to fund labour intensive road rehabilitation programmes which will keep vital supply routes open.
Uganda
Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representation she has made to the Uganda Government about dealing with the fighting in Northern Uganda. [111157]
Clare Short: Over the past three years I have discussed with the Government of Uganda the best way to achieve a peaceful solution to the fighting with the Lord's Resistance Army in Northern Uganda. I discussed this issue with President Museveni in 1997 and during my visit in Uganda last year.
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Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of UK aid to Uganda is for agriculture and forestry. [111159]
Clare Short: We expect to spend £50 million in Uganda this financial year. Around 4 per cent. of this will be spent on agriculture and forestry. This includes assistance related to land ownership, agricultural research, veterinary services, government strategies on forestry and the modernisation of agriculture, and management of aquatic resources. Agricultural development in the less fertile areas of northern and eastern Uganda are key focuses for several of these projects.
Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of UK aid to Uganda is targeted to Northern Uganda. [111158]
Clare Short: We expect to spend £50 million in Uganda this financial year. Around 1 per cent. of this will be spent on projects directly targeted at the four northern districts of Kitgum, Gulu, Arua and Moyo. Most of the Uganda programme is comprised of nation-wide projects and initiatives designed to benefit the whole country, rather than specific districts. Examples include our commitment of £67 million over five years to Uganda's Education Sector Investment Plan, which aims to achieve universal primary education by 2003, and the budgetary assistance we provide direct to government.
Ongoing conflict and instability in Northern Uganda, particularly in Kitgum and Gulu, have made traditional development activities difficult and most of our current projects there focus on humanitarian assistance and peace-building. I have however made it clear when I visited the north and in response to requests from the Ugandan Government that should a sustainable peace be achieved, we will increase the proportion of our resources directly targeted at the region.
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