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Private Military Companies

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what private military companies have licences in Britain; what work they are involved in; and if he will make a statement. [38799]

Mr. MacShane: I have been asked to reply.

Private military companies based in the UK are not at present subject to a licensing regime in respect of the provision of military services. One of the options set out in the FCO's discussion paper "Private Military Companies: Options for Regulation", published on 12 February, is for the introduction of a licensing regime.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Reproductive Health Services

8. Ms Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to increase women's access to reproductive health services in Africa. [37322]

Hilary Benn: Increasing women's access to reproductive health services is a high priority in Africa, where women are affected by poverty, high maternal mortality and, increasingly, by HIV/AIDS. DFID is working with national Governments and other organisations to improve sexual and reproductive health. We invested £150 million on this last year, and expect to invest more this year.

West Africa

9. Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's programme of development assistance to west Africa. [37323]

Clare Short: We maintain a substantial development programme to West Africa, and plan to spend around £130 million and contribute £37 million through the EC over the next three years. We provide further support through the World Bank, Africa Development Bank and UN system.

27. Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her European counterparts regarding aid to west Africa. [37341]

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Clare Short: I meet my European counterparts regularly, and discuss West African issues with them as appropriate. In particular I have encouraged other European countries to become more deeply engaged in Sierra Leone, both politically and financially. I travelled to Guinea and Sierra Leone with the French Development Minister last May.

Sudan

10. Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the prospects for peace, justice, improved human rights and development in Sudan. [37324]

Clare Short: I believe that 2002 offers a real window of opportunity to bring Africa's longest running conflict to an end. I am convinced that with greater international pressure on the main parties, Sudan can be helped towards a just and lasting peace. The human rights of the people of Sudan can be better protected with peace and a stable social and economic environment in place throughout the country. The same applies to the consideration of Sudan's longer-term development needs. Development partnerships will not be effective without peace and political stability.

16. Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to promote peace and development in Sudan. [37330]

Clare Short: We are working with the FCO, to increase the international effort to bring about peace in Sudan. Efforts have been stepped up following my visit to the country in January when I was able to discuss the prospects of peace with Sudanese leaders on both sides of the conflict.

I believe the UK can play a significant role in helping resolve the conflict and that our involvement would be welcomed by both sides. The Prime Minister recently announced the appointment of a UK special Representative for Sudan who will be answerable jointly to myself and the Foreign Secretary and supported by a dedicated team drawn from both Departments. He is working closely with the US and Norway and we will maintain close liaison at official and ministerial level.

Long-term development of Sudan cannot be achieved without an end to the war. My Department continues to address urgent humanitarian needs arising from conflict and drought and has provided over £40 million of humanitarian assistance since 1997. We are liaising closely with the World Bank and European Commission to try and ensure that their engagement reinforces the search for peace.

St. Helena

11. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on the construction of an airfield on the island of St. Helena. [37325]

Clare Short: A "Comparative Study of Air and Sea Access" was published last July. A copy of the report was placed in the Library of the House. It identified options, which have since been under consideration by the St. Helena Government. As part of that process, the views

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of the islanders have been sought in a referendum. The outcome was a majority preference in favour of air access, as an alternative to replacing St. Helena's dedicated passenger and supply ship. Island representatives are currently visiting the UK to discuss next steps.

Replenishment Negotiations

12. Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's priorities are for the International Development Association's 13th replenishment negotiations. [37326]

Clare Short: Our priority for the International Development Association's replenishment (IDA 13) negotiations is to build on the progress achieved under the last replenishment, particularly in consolidating a sharper poverty focus and embedding the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper process as the Lynchpin of the World Bank's engagement in low-income countries.

The UK has indicated that it is prepared to increase substantially its contribution to IDA 13, depending upon the resolution of policy issues.

The negotiations are still under way and are facing serious difficulties. We will report to the International Development Committee once the negotiations have been concluded.

Zimbabwe

13. Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the future role of her Department's projects in Zimbabwe. [37327]

Clare Short: As I informed the House in April 2001, DFID withdrew from projects with the Zimbabwe Government relating to economic management because these could no longer meet their objectives. This has not impacted on levels of assistance to Zimbabwe, rather it has helped us give greater priority to humanitarian assistance and direct help for the poor.

We have of course been preparing strategies for the post election situation and will work with others to provide support for any government committed to responsible reform. If there is no such government we will continue to provide humanitarian assistance.

New Partnership for African Development

14. Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to the New Partnership for African Development. [37328]

Clare Short: We strongly support the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) because it is an African owned and led initiative. We are continuing to work within the international community to ensure an appropriate response, including through the G8, which is preparing an Action Plan for Africa to be presented at the Kananaskis Summit.

We are working closely with the UN Economic Commission for Africa, which has been mandated by NEPAD to develop technical proposals on governance.

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Child Poverty

15. Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to combat child poverty in developing countries. [37329]

Clare Short: We seek to reduce the poverty of children, which causes suffering to today's children and jeopardises the well being of future generations, by working to address the causes of deprivation in their communities. Support for children's rights to basic health care, education, nutrition, shelter, protection from violence and abusive labour, along with sustainable livelihoods for their parents, is central to our work towards the millennium development goals.

We are working to energise the international system to achieve the goals. The goals include the target of, by 2015, lifting one billion people out of abject poverty, universal primary schooling, and reducing under-five child mortality by two-thirds.

Senegal

17. Mr. Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what conclusions she has drawn from Senegal's fight against HIV/AIDS. [37331]

Clare Short: Senegal, like Uganda and Thailand has shown that political leadership to fighting the disease is a vital element in slowing the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These countries have also demonstrated the importance and effectiveness of strategies which promote awareness and behaviour change through information, education and community mobilisation; prevent infection through condom promotion and treatment of sexually transmitted infections; and support and encourage voluntary counselling and testing.

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