FOURTH SPECIAL REPORT
The International Development Committee has agreed
to the following Special Report:—
ECGD, DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES AND THE ILISU
DAM: FURTHER REPORT
The International Development Committee reported
to the House on ECGD, Developmental Issues and the Ilisu Dam: Further
Report in its Fifth Report, Session 2000-01 (HC 395), published
on 4 April 2001. The Government Response to that Report was received
on Wednesday 9 May 2001. It is reproduced as an Appendix to this
Special Report.
APPENDIX: GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE COMMITTEE'S
REPORT
ECGD, DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES AND THE ILISU
DAM: FURTHER REPORT
I am pleased to attach the Government's response
to the comments made in the Committee's report into "ECGD
Developmental Issues and the Ilisu Dam" published on 29 March
2001.
The response seeks to address the Committee's interpretation
that the Ombudsman's report into the exchanges between the FCO
and the DTI/ECGD confirmed the Committee's notion that FCO advice
did not extend to the more general issues of human rights and
conflict in the region.
Please advice me if you have any further observations
or comments that the Committee might wish to make.
Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Trade
9 May 2001
International Development Committee's
Fifth Report "ECGD, Developmental Issues and the Ilisu Dam",
March 2001
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO IDC REPORT OF 29
MARCH 2001
The Government does not accept the Committee's interpretation
that the Ombudsman's report appears to confirm the Committee's
suspicion that FCO advice on human rights was limited to the issue
of resettlement and did not extend to the more general issues
of human rights and conflict in the region. The Ombudsman's summary
of the exchanges between FCO and DTI/ECGD refers to advice being
given by the FCO to DTI on policy towards the Kurds, human rights
abuses in south east Turkey and, in the context of briefing for
the then Minister for Trade's visit to Turkey in May 1999, detailed
background on the general issue of human rights in Turkey. The
Government response (published on 24 October 2000) to the Committee's
report of 12 July 2000, and Mr Richard Caborn's letter of 24 January
2001 to the Chairman of the Committee made clear that the FCO
had stressed the importance of environmental, social and regional
issues, including the human rights implications for the local
population, particularly as regards resettlement, loss of property
and compensation.
The Government welcomes the Ombudsman's conclusion
that the Government had, to a very considerable extent, already
recognised the degree of public concern raised by the Ilisu Dam
and responded to it. The Government also welcomes the Ombudsman's
conclusion that the ministerial and official correspondence should
not be released, in order to protect the confidentiality of the
decision making process. The Government was happy to agree to
the release of the Ombudsman's summary of the exchanges between
FCO and DTI/ECGD.
The Committee recommended that the FCO should provide
ECGD with an analysis of the human rights implications of every
project for which ECGD is considering cover. As the Government
response (published on 24 October 2000) to the Committee's report
of 12 July 2000 made clear, it is now part of ECGD's Mission to
take account of the Government's international policies on sustainable
development, human rights, good governance and trade, whilst furthering
its core aim of benefiting the UK economy by assisting exports
and investment overseas. In December 2000 ECGD published
Business Principles to guide its business practice and policies
in relation to matters such as human rights, sustainable development,
developing countries, business integrity and transparency. A new
Impact Questionnaire is now being used to screen applications
for potential environmental, social and human rights impacts.
A formal mechanism has been established to ensure that Other Government
Departments, including FCO are fully consulted on sensitive cases.
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