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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 18 January 2002
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Pan-African Tsetse and
Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign. [27759]
Clare Short: DFID recognises that Trypanosomiasis is a major constraint to human health and to the livelihoods of poor livestock keepers throughout many parts of Africa. We have made considerable investments (over £37 million) to develop methods to control the disease in livestock and we support the World Health Organisation in its efforts to control sleeping sickness in humans.
The long-term goal of the Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication (PATTEC) is to eradicate tsetse fly from the continent. It is a complex and ambitious programme that would require many billions of dollars to implement, and is founded on as yet unproven scientific and economic theory.
Our analysis—shared also by the European Commission—is that it will not be possible to eradicate tsetse flies from Africa. The aims of the campaign are laudable, but we do not believe that they are achievable.
Our strategy is to promote methods for controlling the tsetse fly and preventative and curative methods of treatment that can be readily implemented by poor people themselves. We have programmes of support with the Inter-African Bureau of Animal Resources of the African Union, and with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, to promote the establishment of sustainable animal health services that provide poor people with the means to control tsetse fly and the disease it carries.
Where the political will for control exists, and where there are clear social benefits, a regional approach to tsetse control may be justified. Such large scale programmes would however be best handled through multilateral channels such as the EC, and not by bilateral agencies such as DFID.
Burkina Faso
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the situation in Burkina Faso regarding the incidence of HIV cases; and what assistance has been provided by her Department in each of the last five years. [28621]
Clare Short: Burkina Faso has the second highest HIV/AIDS infection rate in west Africa, the UN estimating the adult prevalence rate as being 6.4 per cent. at the end of 1999. The Burkinabe Government are strongly committed to tackling HIV/AIDS through a comprehensive national
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strategy, and are working in partnership with neighbouring countries to contain the epidemic. Last month Burkina Faso hosted the 12th International Conference on AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases in Africa.
DFID does not have a substantive aid programme to Burkina Faso, and has not provided direct support for any projects linked to HIV/AIDS over the last five years. However, we fund such work indirectly through our contributions to international agencies—UNAIDS supports regional work to strengthen the response to HIV/AIDS throughout Africa, and the World bank's $500 million Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program for the Africa Region (MAP) includes $22 million for Burkina Faso to help the Government expand access, particularly for vulnerable groups, to prevention, care and treatment.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much development aid was provided to Burkina Faso by the UK in each of the last five years. [28620]
Clare Short: DFID does not have a development programme in Burkina Faso. Small-scale funding has been available from the small grants scheme and the civil society challenge fund (and its forerunner). Details of DFID grants in aid and in kind are as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 204,000 |
| 1997–98 | 156,000 |
| 1998–99 | 305,000 |
| 1999–2000 | 267,000 |
| 2000–01 | 234,000 |
In addition the UK provided debt relief of £430,000 in 1997–98.
The EC maintains a substantial development assistance programme to Burkina Faso. The calculated estimate of the proportion attributable to UK contributions over the years 1995–99 (the last year for which we have data) is as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 7.4 |
| 1996 | 4.5 |
| 1997 | 5.7 |
| 1998 | 7.0 |
| 1999 | 6.3 |
Departmental Transport
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in each of the last four years. [27906]
Clare Short: The estimated cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for my Department in each of the last four financial years is:
| (a) | (b) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 257,247 | 71,185 |
| 1998–99 | 290,081 | 55,144 |
| 1999–2000 | 270,654 | 57,118 |
| 2000–01 | 212,114 | 78,308 |
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Zimbabwe
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the situation relating to the distribution of food aid in Zimbabwe; and on what development assistance from the United Kingdom is being spent. [28434]
Clare Short: The prospect of food shortages in Zimbabwe has been clear for a long time. NGOs have planned ahead, including purchasing food, and have been operating supplementary feeding programmes since September 2001. DFID has committed £4 million for food and logistics support for programmes run by NGOs. We are monitoring these activities carefully and working with the NGOs and other donors to help ensure their success. We are satisfied that, at present, they are still able to work effectively.
The World Food Programme is now beginning food aid operations in Zimbabwe as a part of the UN Humanitarian Assistance and Recovery Programme. WFP will transport food within Zimbabwe, and will also work through NGOs to deliver food at the community level. DFID has pledged a further £3.5 million to WFP for food and logistics support.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the value of trade credits guaranteed by the ECGD for sales of military equipment to highly indebted poor countries in each year since 1983. [25240]
Ms Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
The value of ECGD cover for defence business in each of these years for countries currently classified as HIPCs (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries) is as follows:
| Year | Value of ECGD cover |
|---|---|
| 1984–85 | 102.8 |
| 1987–88 | 20.1 |
| 1988–89 | 49.2 |
| Total for all years since 1983 | 171.2 |
For years not listed the total value of ECGD cover was £0.
Not included in the table is cover provided by ECGD's short-term operation which was privatised in 1991. More generally ECGD's records of business supported prior to 1 April 1987 are no longer comprehensive.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. John Stonborough
Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when and for what purpose Mr. John Stonborough was engaged by the House of Commons Commission; what the selection process was; and when the need for advice on media relations was identified. [27263]
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Mr. Kirkwood: Mr. Stonborough was engaged with effect from 20 December 2001 to provide the House of Commons Commission with advice on media relations generally, and on long-term information strategy. The commission chose him at its meeting on 18 December 2001. The need for a corporate approach to media matters was identified in the Braithwaite Review of Management and Services (HC745) published in July 1999. This led to the appointment of a communications adviser in the Office of the Clerk in 2000. Mr. Stonborough's engagement represents a further step in that direction.
TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE REGIONS
Abandoned Housing
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will rank local authorities in England by (a) number and (b) percentage of (i) public and (ii) private housing stock which have been abandoned. [27147]
Ms Keeble: Data on levels of abandonment are not held by my Department. Abandonment arises where a property owner simply walks away or 'abandons' a property. The owner's intentions as well as their actions are therefore relevant and it is difficult to define objectively. However, we do have data reporting low demand, which I have placed in the Libraries of the House.
Homebuy Scheme
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people in the constituency of Buckingham have received interest free equity loans under the Homebuy scheme; and what the total amount of funding granted is. [27775]
Ms Keeble: The number of people in Aylesbury Vale that have received interest free equity loans under the Homebuy scheme is four.
- 1999–2000: 1
2000–01: 1
2001–02: 2.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 24,938 |
| 2000–01 | 24,640 |
| 2001–02 | 61,320 |
| Total amount of funding granted | 110,898 |
Note:
The Buckingham constituency is only part of Aylesbury Vale local authority area (albeit the main part) and that part of Aylesbury constituency is also covered within this area. Thus, any loans within the Aylesbury constituency may also be included in the figures.
Source:
Notting Hill Housing Association
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