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Population Growth

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimates she has made of population growth in (a) developing countries and (b) low-income developing countries in each year since 1995; and if she will make a statement. [26687]

Clare Short: My Department does not make estimates of world population growth. We take careful account of the population statistics provided by the United Nations which indicate that world population grew from 5.7 billion in 1995 to 6.1 billion in 2001, and is estimated to grow to over 9 billion by 2050. It is also estimated that all of the projected growth will take place in developing countries, which by 2050 will account for over 85 per cent. of world population.

The Government believe that people should be able to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children. One of the priorities of my Department therefore is to help ensure that contraception is available to all men and women in the developing world who want it. 57 per cent. of the world's couples are now using contraception compared with 9 per cent. 30 years ago. Another of our major priorities therefore is to try to ensure that the millennium development goals of universal primary education by 2015, and gender equality in primary and secondary education by 2005 are achieved. Where this choice exists girls are more likely to receive an education, and go on to have fewer, healthier children.

Low Income Countries

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of bilateral country programme expenditure is directed to low income developing countries in the latest year for which information is available; if she will list the countries so defined as low income; and if she will make a statement. [26686]

Clare Short: In 2000–01, 76 per cent. of DFID's bilateral country programmes went to low income countries, compared to 65 per cent. in 1997–98. Excluding humanitarian assistance these figures were 78 per cent. and 67 per cent. Under internationally agreed definitions, low income countries are those with a GNP/GNI per capita in 1998 of below $760. There are currently

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63 countries defined as low income and these are listed in "Statistics on International Development" (SID), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

We are committed to increasing further the concentration on low income countries. Our current public service agreement includes a target of 80 per cent. in 2002–03 for the share of the bilateral country programme, excluding humanitarian assistance, going to low income countries.

PRIME MINISTER

Council of Europe/Western European Union

Mr. Rooney: To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the full composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union. [28176]

The Prime Minister: The United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Western European Union is as follows:




































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Honours

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 815W, whether a finding by the House of Lords Judicial Committee against an individual formerly awarded an honour, that the individual concerned was guilty of political corruption in the conduct of local government sufficient to lead to a substantial surcharge and disqualification from holding office, can amount to an offence which brings the honours system into disrepute sufficient to consider forfeiture of that honour; and if he will make a statement. [27655]

The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

Policy Unit

Mrs. May: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many applicants there were for the post of transport adviser in the No. 10 Policy Unit; [27330]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on 14 January 2002, Official Report, column 90W.

Mrs. May: To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the remit of the No. 10 Policy Unit on transport policy. [27329]

The Prime Minister: The Policy Directorate within No. 10 covers domestic policy, including transport.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Women's Football

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Football Association and (b) Sport England on the funding and promotion of women's football. [27285]

Mr. Caborn: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I, have specifically discussed the funding and promotion of women's football with the Football Association (FA) or Sport England. However, DCMS officials are working closely with the FA and the FA Women's Professional League Project Team to raise the profile of women's football in this country.

National Stadium

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received from those backing the bid for a national stadium located in Coventry; and if she will make a statement. [26891]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 14 January 2002]: Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have received many written representations for and against

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potential locations for the national stadium, including Coventry, in recent months. The statement made by my right hon. Friend to the House on 19 December 2001, Official Report, columns 291–93, set out the Government's position on the national stadium.

Football Supporters Trusts

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many football clubs have set up supporters trusts since July 2000; how many are planned; and how many supporters directors have been appointed. [27316]

Mr. Caborn: To date 43 supporters trusts have been set up, 14 are under active consideration and 16 supporters directors have been appointed.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

National Minimum Wage (Greenock and Inverclyde)

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the national minimum wage on the income levels of people in the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency. [25425]

Alan Johnson: The national minimum wage has contributed to a significant increase in the wages of people on low pay. According to the New Earnings Survey (NES) 10 per cent. of employees in Inverclyde earned less than £195 per week in 2000 compared with less than £165 in 1998—an increase of around 18 per cent. By comparison, average gross weekly earnings in Great Britain increased by 9 per cent. over the same period from £384.50 to £419.70.

Electricity Industry

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the changes in the export price of renewable energy generators (a) since the implementation of NETA and (b) in each year since 1997. [25890]

Mr. Wilson: Ofgem's Report to DTI on the Review of the Initial Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators issued on 31 August 2001 indicated that export prices had reduced since the start of NETA as follows:


The Department does not have information on changes in export prices of renewable energy generators for each year since 1997. In terms of prices for renewable energy exports the Department does not keep these figures which are usually a matter of commercial confidentiality. The Department does however provide guaranteed export prices to renewable exports which have received Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation contracts and the exact price paid to each export will be defined by the relevant contract. Average prices received by current projects for each NFFO Order are as follows.

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NFFO orderTotal capacity (MW)Average cost (p/kWh)
36274.35
48433.46
51,1772.71

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