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EU-funded Projects (Middle East)
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which EU-funded projects in the (a) West Bank and (b) Gaza Strip have recently been damaged by Israeli retaliatory attacks; what the damage incurred was; and what the value of the damage sustained was. [46308]
Clare Short: The European Commission is currently assessing the damage caused to EU-funded projects by Israeli attacks. To date approximately 22 projects have been destroyed or seriously damaged, including basic infrastructure projects (schools, labs, tarmac, water supply). The most notable example is the destruction of the runway and buildings of Gaza airport. The latest estimate of damage is about 19 million.
I will write with details of the damaged or destroyed projects and place a copy in the Library of the House.
Lakshmi Mittal
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how many loan applications her Department has received from (a) Mr. Lakshmi Mittal and (b) LNM Holdings, and referred to (i) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (ii) the Department for Trade and Industry; [43764]
- (2) how many loan applications her Department has rejected from (a) Mr. Lakshmi Mittal and (b) LNM Holdings. [43763]
Clare Short: To the best of my knowledge, my Department has not received any direct applications for loans from (a) Mr. Lakshmi Mittal or (b) LNM Holdings.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if she will support at the World Bank Mr. Lakshmi Mittal's expected application for a loan to make further payments to the Romanian Government for the SIDEX steel plant; [43768]
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- (2) what instructions she has received from the Office of the Prime Minister on support for Lakshmi Mittal's expected application for a loan from the World Bank to make further payments to the Romanian Government for the SIDEX steel plant. [43769]
Hilary Benn: To the best of my knowledge no such application has been made. If one is received Departmental officials will consider its merits in the usual way.
SIDEX
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what investigations into the conduct and financial stability of LNM/Ispat projects overseas were initiated by her Department before it decided to support the proposed loan by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to assist the purchase of SIDEX in Romania. [44577]
Clare Short: Adherence to sound banking is one of EBRD's three core principles. The Bank routinely prepares rigorous financial analysis and integrity due diligence for all investments. We do not duplicate EBRD procedures.
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what conditions were attached to each of the loans given by the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development to LNM/Ispat for the acquisition of steel works with particular reference to those attached to the subsequent closure or sale of the steel works in question. [44482]
Clare Short: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development has not made any loans to LNM/Ispat for the acquisition of steel works.
The International Finance Corporation made loans to Caribbean Ispat Ltd in Trinidad and Tobago in 1995 and to Ispat Karmet in Kazakhstan in 1997 for projects relating to steel works. The IFC negotiates appropriate financial and other conditions with individual clients.
Yugoslavia
Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is providing to Yugoslavia to help that country deal with its refugee problem. [46267]
Clare Short: Humanitarian assistance in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including assistance for refugees, is co-ordinated by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the European Commission Humanitarian Affairs Office (ECHO). The UK provides funds for these agencies, including 19.7 per cent. of the ECHO budget.
We have already agreed with the FRY authorities that our bilateral programme will focus on providing technical assistance for institution and capacity building, and for economic and social reform, as described in our Country Strategy Paper. Within this strategy we are developing a #3.2 million social policy reform programme that will improve the delivery of social welfare, health, employment and education services. This programme pays particular attention to refugees and internally displaced persons. We are also
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working closely with the World Bank in the design of a credit package aimed at improving social welfare, education and health services.
Zambia
Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she last visited Zambia; what assistance her Department is providing to Zambia; and if she will make a statement on her Department's assistance for Mechanics for Africa. [45833]
Clare Short: I last visited Zambia in November 2000.
In the current financial year we estimate that we will spend around #41 million in Zambia. We concentrate on four key areas: good governance and human rights, sustainable livelihoods, health and education, and HIV/AIDS. We are working closely with the World Bank on plans to mitigate the effects of Anglo-American's withdrawal from mining operations in Zambia.
My Department is not currently providing assistance to Mechanics for Africa, although we are aware of their work in Zambia. They have been given advice on applying to the British High Commission's Small Grants Scheme.
Disability
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she
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offers to developing countries in dealing with disability issues. [46268]
Clare Short: The Department for International Development is currently supporting nearly 40 projects and programmes around the world with a focus on the rights and needs of people with disabilities. In the past year we have approved in excess of #154 million of new funding for work in this area (#136 million for the polio eradication programme). The global drive to reduce poverty will also bring many benefits, in reducing some of the key causes of disability and improving the quality of life and opportunities for people with disabilities.
DFID's strategy on disability is set out in an issues paper published in February 2000, called XDisability, poverty and development". We work closely with Governments, the voluntary and private sectors, and the bilateral and multilateral donor communities, to ensure that disability is addressed in the context of the fight against poverty and the realisation of human rights for all.
Commonwealth Aid
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total financial value was of aid and assistance give by the United Kingdom to each member country of the Commonwealth in each of the last five years. [45675]
Clare Short: The information requested is set out in the following table.
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DFID has a regional programme in the Pacific; figures on countries in the region that are members of the Commonwealth are not available separately.
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