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Prize Competitions

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action the Government are taking in respect of its commitment in paragraph 4.53 of "A Safe Bet for Success" to carry out a separate review of prize competitions and similar quasi-gambling products. [59721]

Mr. Caborn: We are issuing a consultation paper today, which is also available on our website www.culture.gov.uk. The Government does not want to affect companies' ability to run genuine and harmless

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sales promotions. But it is important that operators should not be able to circumvent the principle that lotteries should not be run for commercial gain.

Committee Mandates

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme concerning co-operation policy in the youth field, including European voluntary service and youth exchanges within the Community and with third countries (YOUTH) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [57493]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.

The purpose of the Youth Programme Committee is set out in the Council Decision 1031/2000/EC of 13 April 2000, which established the "Youth" Community action programme. The Youth Programme Committee has met twice over the last 12 months. One official and one expert

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attend the Committee meetings. Travel expenses are met from Commission resources. The travel and subsistence costs to public funds amount to approximately £1,100 over the last 12 months, of which approximately £800 was reimbursed by the Commission.

The date of the next meeting has yet to be announced by the Commission and an agenda has not been published. However, the previous meeting in December 2001 considered the Commission's White Paper on Youth, adopted the 2002 Youth Programme Work Plan and approved the 2002 Budget.

Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Middle East

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to his answer of 11 April 2002, Official Report, column 616W, on Israel, what the final cost of the damage to projects in the area administered by the Palestinian Authority that have been funded by the UK on a bilateral basis is; and what plans he has to call for financial compensation. [58520]

Clare Short: The final cost of damage to UK-funded projects has still to be confirmed. We have also recently learned of damage to fourteen vehicles the UK provided to the Palestinian police force in 1995. The replacement cost would be about £280,000. In common with European Union partners we reserve the right to seek compensation from the Israeli authorities.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to his answer of 11 April 2002, Official Report, column 616W, on Israel, what the outcome was of the meeting between the Task Force and Minister Eliezer. [58519]

Clare Short: No formal response was given by Minister Ben Eliezer. Subsequent discussions with the Israeli authorities reveal plans for a tightening of travel restrictions affecting the movement of people and goods. This has serious implications for the Palestinian economy, Palestinian society and the viability of the future Palestinian state. In common with the European Union, and other partners, we are considering how we should address this unwelcome development.

Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with other countries about co-operating in paying for the damage caused to Palestinian areas during the recent Israeli incursions with special reference to Jenin. [58020]

Clare Short: A World bank led team has recently completed a damage assessment. We have been fully involved in that process, including discussions about potential funding opportunities. Initial indications are that at least $150 million—out of an estimated total cost of $360 million—will be readily available for urgent priority repairs. We are currently discussing with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees the provision of long term technical assistance to support the rebuilding of the Jenin refugee camp.

Sustainable Development

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards the implementation of national strategies for sustainable development for developing countries; and what involvement she has had with the development of the United Nations policy guidance. [58570]

Clare Short: My Department has been working within the OECD's Development Assistance Committee and the United Nations to reach international agreement on the characteristics of national strategies for sustainable development. In April 2001 the high level meeting of the Development Assistance Committee agreed guidelines on principles of planning for sustainable development. These principles were discussed at an international forum on

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national sustainable development strategies, held in Ghana in November 2001. This forum was organised by the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs with support from my Department.

An important outcome of this work has been the conclusion that good poverty reduction strategies contain the elements necessary for strategic planning for sustainable development and fulfil the role of national strategies for sustainable development. My Department is providing support in over 30 of the 41 countries which have produced interim or full PRSPs.

Committee Mandates

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the mandate of the Joint Committee (EEC-Côte d'Ivoire) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [58507]

Clare Short: My officials are unaware of any meetings of a Joint Committee (EEC-Côte d'lvoire). In response to our inquiries, the European Commission was also unable to recall such a committee ever having met or what its mandate might have been.

Parliamentary Advisers

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) names and (b) responsibilities are of parliamentary advisers appointed to serve her Department. [56979]

Clare Short: Ministers in this Department have made no such appointments.

HIV

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether there will be an open call from the European Commission for non-Governmental organisations to present proposals targeting HIV prevention in youth under budget line B7–6211. [58136]

Clare Short: The Commission will prioritise interventions targeting HIV prevention in youth under budget line B7–6211. An open call for proposals will be made in July 2002.

Reproductive Health

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the European Commission is planning to issue calls for projects in 2002 for budget line B7–6312 Aid for Population and Reproduction Health in Developing Countries funding. [58135]

Clare Short: The European Commission plans to issue calls for proposals to budget line B7–6312 in July 2002.

Somalian Refugees

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many Somalian refugees are believed to be camped in (a) Kenya and (b) Ethiopia. [58100]

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Clare Short: The latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicate there are (a) 129,800 Somalian refugees in Kenya and (b) 50,906 Somalian refugees in Ethiopia. The Kenya figure does not include approximately 10,000 people who have crossed the border into Kenya at Mandera this month.

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action the Government are taking to assist the Government of Kenya to deal with Somalian refugees from the town of Bula Hawa. [58101]

Clare Short: None. The Government of Kenya have not asked us for any assistance, and we understand that many of the refugees have already returned to Bula Hawa. Several UN agencies and NGOs are working with the Kenyan authorities and the refugees who have not yet returned, to ensure the latter receive the assistance they need, though we understand that food distribution is proving difficult as a result of the security situation. British officials in Nairobi continue to monitor the situation closely.

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations the Government have made to the Government of Kenya for Somalian refugees from the town of Bula Hawa to be allowed to remain around Mandera until the fighting in their home areas subsides. [58099]

Clare Short: None. UNHCR is discussing with the Government of Kenya how best to look after the interests of the refugees in around Mandera. We understand that some have agreed to go to the established refugee camp in Dadaab rather than stay near to Mandera. British officials in Nairobi are in close touch with UNCHR and other concerned agencies, and are monitoring the situation as it evolves.

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