---

PFI/PPPs

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the (a) private finance initiative and (b) public private partnership projects which have been delayed. [44885]

Mr. Morley: The Private Finance Initiative projects which have been delayed are:

Pevensey Bay Sea Defences;

Broadland Flood Alleviation Scheme;

11 Apr 2002 : Column 612W

Brooklands Avenue Cambridge—Redevelopment of office accommodation.

The Public Private Partnership projects which have been delayed are:

British Waterways P4;

British Waterways Water Grid.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will conduct an environmental impact assessment across the supply chain to assess whether the aggregates levy meets the Government's sustainable development objectives; and if she will publish the results of this assessment in the Library. [46428]

Mr. Paul Boateng: I have been asked to reply.

The aggregates levy will be subject to environmental evaluation in due course, as part of the Budget process. Given that the levy was only introduced on 1 April 2002 it is currently too early to assess its impact.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Aggregates Levy

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effect the aggregates levy will have on the ability of SME type quarry operators to compete with large vertically integrated companies. [46477]

Mr. Boateng: I have been asked to reply.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment for the aggregates levy was published at the time of Budget 2000. A copy is available in the Library and can be accessed from the Customs and Excise website.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

World Poverty

Dr. Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards the 2015 targets for reducing world poverty. [44496]

Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Richmond Park on 4 July 2001.

In addition at the UN conference on Financing for Development in Mexico, the European Union announced a commitment to increase average Official Development Assistance as a proportion of gross national income to 0.39 per cent. by 2006 an increase of $7 billion.

Project Sponsorship

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which of her Department's projects have received sponsorship since 1997, including (a) details of the sponsor, (b) the nature of the project,

11 Apr 2002 : Column 613W

(c) the date of the project, (d) the total cost of the project and (e) the amount of money involved in the sponsorship deal. [48401]

Hilary Benn: In line with the Government's commitment in its response to the Sixth Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life, details of individual amounts of sponsorship valued at more than £5,000 will be disclosed in departmental Annual Reports.

DFID projects do not receive sponsorship. We do, however, support other organisation's projects, which may in turn have received sponsorship from other sources.

British Overseas Territories

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on how much aid has been given to the British Overseas Territories in each year since 1997. [46985]

Hilary Benn: The Government's assistance to the Overseas Territories has declined gradually from £52.6 million in 1997–98, when the Montserrat volcanic crisis was at its height, to £39.6 million in 2000–01. The British Virgin Islands graduated last year from the need for our support; and programmes in Anguilla and Turks and Caicos Islands are now limited to technical assistance. Financial aid, however, continues to be provided for both St Helena and Montserrat. Our ultimate goal, which is shared by the Overseas Territories, is to increase local self-sufficiency to levels where our assistance is no longer required.

Montserrat

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress of the aid programme in Montserrat; and what potential threats there are from further volcanic eruptions. [46986]

Hilary Benn: Substantial progress has been made, since the onset of the volcanic crisis, in returning normality to life in the northern half of the island. Basic infrastructure and essential public services have been restored; housing has been provided for those in need; and a range of expertise has been supplied in support of Montserrat's efforts to recover from the crisis. The focus now is upon sustainable development and eventual return to self-sufficiency for the island. With this in mind, a new airstrip and measures to attract specialist tourism and private sector investment are under consideration. A new volcano monitoring facility, incorporating special viewing areas for visitors, will be commissioned later this year. The volcano, now scientifically classifed as "persistently active", continues to pose a threat to the southern half of the island, including the former capital town of Plymouth. These areas remain uninhabitable. The risk to northern areas of the island is presently judged to be negligible. Job No: CW0126 Folios: 000-000Operator: Operator Number 3. Date: 11/04/02rjk

Israel

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 11 March 2002, Official Report, column 684W, on Israel, if she will list the projects in the area administered

11 Apr 2002 : Column 614W

by the Palestinian Authority that have been funded by the (a) UK on a bilateral basis and (b) European Union, stating in each case the (i) nature of the project, (ii) funding to date, (iii) funding in each of the last five years, (iv) provisional assessment made against that project of structural and financial damage by Israeli action in the Occupied Territories and (v) amount of financial compensation to be sought; and if she will make a statement. [46679]

Hilary Benn: An assessment of UK-funded projects has shown only two projects sustaining direct damage. The vehicle provided through our support to the Primary Health Care management-training course at Bir Zeit University was damaged during an aerial attack on Ramallah. The project is the second phase of post-graduate training for primary healthcare managers at Bir Zeit University. The project began in 2000 and to date has spent approximately £1.1 million. In 2000 it spent £0.7 million, £0.3 million in 2001 and £0.1 million so far this financial year. An initial estimate of the damage is approximately £28,000.

Our project with Save the Children Fund (SCF) in Rafah also sustained direct damage when a community centre funded by the project was hit by Israeli Defence Force (IDF) fire. The aim of the project, and its sister initiatives in Jabalia, Anabta and Dura, is to improve access to potable water, sanitation and environmental health. The project in Rafah began in 1999 and to date has spent approximately £2 million. In 1999 it spent £0.4 million, in 2000 £0.7 million, £0.6 million in 2001, and £0.3 million so far in 2002. The final cost of the damage has not yet been confirmed.

For information on projects funded by the European Commission I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 March 2002 to Parliamentary Question 46308.

The conflict and closures have had a major impact on all development projects. The matter of financial compensation has not yet been determined. The local Task Force on Project Implementation (EC, USAID, office of the United Nations Special Co-ordinator, and the World Bank) wrote to the Benjamin Ben Eliezer, Israeli Minister of Defense (25 March 2002) conveying the international donor community's concern in relation to the adverse affects of IDF activities upon project implementation. A meeting is to take place in the near future between the Task Force and Minister Eliezer.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects in Israel that have been funded by the (a) UK on a bilateral basis and (b) European Union, stating in each case the (i) nature of the project and (ii) funding to date, in each of the last five years; what assessment she has made of structural and financial damage by Palestinian action to such projects; and if she will make a statement.[46660]

Hilary Benn: Israel's level of economic development is relatively high. For this reason Israel is not a recipient of UK or EC development assistance.

11 Apr 2002 : Column 615W

Malawi

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support she has provided to agencies working in Malawi to tackle the food shortages there. [47611]

Hilary Benn: We have provided £1.9 million since January for direct food relief in Malawi, including grants to non-Governmental organisations which are providing support to 180,000 beneficiaries, mainly children and pregnant and breast-feeding mothers, in the Districts of Balaka, Machinga, Dedza and Mchinji. In addition, in November we provided £3.5 million for nation-wide cash for work programmes and £3.75 million for free distribution of agricultural inputs. Both programmes were targeted at vulnerable households. To help prevent future food shortages, we are working with Government to help prepare a National Food Security Strategy.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the food shortages in Malawi; and if she will make a statement. [48070]

Hilary Benn: There are severe localised food shortages in parts of Malawi. At this time of year most households depend on the market for basic foods, but grain prices have risen enormously, reducing access by the poor. The maize crop to be harvested from April onwards will provide some relief, but consumption of green maize may have had a significant impact on overall yields and therefore on household food security. Shortages can be expected throughout the 2002–03 agricultural season.

---