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NORTHERN IRELAND

Bill of Rights

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his policy on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. [58366]

Mr. Browne: In accordance with the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the then Secretary of State commissioned the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to "consult and advise on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights, to reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland". I understand that the

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Commission is currently considering submissions made to it following the publication last September of its consultation document 'Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland' and expects to report to me in 2003. The Government's position remains that we will not reach any policy conclusions on the scope for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland until that report has been received.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

LNM Holdings

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the Government approved International Finance Corporation support for LNM Holdings in its acquisition of the Czech Nova Hut Steelworks. [65662]

Clare Short: The Board of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), of which the British Government is a member, has not considered any proposal for financial support for LNM Holdings in its acquisition of the Czech Nova Hut Steelworks.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations have been received in relation to the EBRD financing of LNM Holdings' acquisition of the Nova Hut Steelworks. [65663]

Clare Short: None.

Malawi

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's actions during the famine in Malawi. [66869]

Clare Short: Since October 2001 my Department has committed over £23 million to help the people and Government of Malawi deal with the food crisis. Our assistance has supported the supply of agricultural inputs to help increase domestic food production, access to employment income from public works, and supplementary feeding programmes for children under five and mothers. These activities have been carried out in partnership with local NGOs, UN agencies, EU and Malawi Government departments. Included in the above sum is £10 million which I announced last month for Malawi as a contribution to the international response to the regional crisis. It will also be used for food imports, agricultural inputs and feeding programmes for vulnerable groups.

My officials in Malawi are playing a leading role in the Malawi national task force and working groups responsible for development of a comprehensive, long-term national food security strategy.

Sudan

Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what deliveries of humanitarian assistance have been made to the Nuba Mountains since the ceasefire was signed. [65656]

Clare Short [holding answer 3 July 2002]: According to UN sources in Khartoum, over 1,600 metric tonnes (mt) of food aid has been delivered to government controlled

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areas of the Nuba Mountains and 1,800 mt to areas controlled by the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army. In addition, United Nations (UN) agencies and other and international non-government organisations are actively implementing relief programmes in both areas.

Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of recent reports of displacement of civilians in Western Upper Nile, Sudan. [65657]

Clare Short [holding answer 3 July 2002]: Fighting in Western Upper Nile continues and it has not been possible to accurately ascertain the extent of displacement of civilians in the region.

Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards setting up mechanisms for monitoring the ceasefire in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan. [65655]

Clare Short [holding answer 3 July 2002]: An international monitoring unit has been established as part of the Joint Military Commission under the Nuba Mountains ceasefire agreement. Norwegian Brigadier General Wilhelmson heads the 95 strong Joint Monitoring Mission which comprises international monitors and representatives of the Government of Sudan and the SPLA. The UK has provided the vice chairman of the Joint Military Commission, four monitors to the international monitoring unit and US$ 1 million to help meet the costs.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's policy in respect of the section 8 orders being carried out in Zimbabwe. [65679]

Clare Short: We believe there is a strong case for land reform in Zimbabwe. However we strongly deplore the way in which the Zimbabwe Governments fast track process is being implemented.

Section 8 orders are a part of a deeply flawed process that is not supported by the British Government or the international community.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to discuss with EU colleagues proposals to stabilise Zimbabwe's farming industry. [65682]

Clare Short: We have been active in promoting an international coalition, including the EU, to bring to bear whatever pressure is possible on the ruling party to change its ruinous economic policy. In the meantime, we are exploring proposals with non-governmental organisations to help small scale farmers revive maize production in the next growing season.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on assistance (a) offered and (b) proposed for assisting farmers in Zimbabwe. [65684]

Clare Short: Neither the UNDP nor the Abuja processes have resulted in a plan for sustainable land reform. In the absence of a credible Government programme, we are considering with non-governmental organisations how we can help poor farmers in the

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communal areas to increase food production, which has been so badly affected this year by drought, the failing economy and ill-conceived fast track land reform.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding her Department has allocated in 2002–03 for projects in Zimbabwe; and if she will list them. [65683]

Clare Short: The original allocation made for Zimbabwe in 2002–03 was £12 million. The following projects are being funded from this figure (most have been or will be funded over several years):

	£ million
UN Humanitarian Assistance and Recovery Programme	6
Support for UN Relief and Recovery Unit	0.086
NGO Supplementary Feeding Programme	4
NGO Emergency Preparedness and Response	0.8
Sexual and Reproductive Health Phase 2	20
Social Marketing Phase 2	6.8
Education Section HIV/AIDS Impact Assessment	0.13
Bikita integrated rural water supply and sanitation	2.72
Small Dams Rehabilitation	1.96
Credit for the Information Sector	1.84
Agribusiness Entrepreneur Network development	0.492
Wills and Inheritance rights programme	0.86
Empowerment of Farm Worker Communities	1.6

We have recently increased spending in the southern Africa region to assist with the current food crisis, and Zimbabwe will benefit from additional support through the UN World Food Programme, and through non- governmental organisation feeding and agricultural recovery programmes.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the number of families in Zimbabwe who have been moved from their homes as a result of section 8 orders. [65678]

Clare Short: It is difficult to obtain accurate information. According to the Commercial Farmers' Union about 2,900 farm owners have received section 8 orders and most of these will be legally required to leave their homes in the first half of August. However many may choose not to do so at this point while further legal avenues are being explored. Farm workers are also at risk of losing their only income and their home with the change of farm ownership. There are around 300,000 farm workers affected by the land reform programme which with their families affects perhaps two million people. While we do not know exactly how many of them have already been forced off farms, we are working with the farm workers' organisations and the UN World Food Programme to monitor their situation and meet their immediate humanitarian needs.

Oxfam

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she last met the Chairman of Oxfam. [66333]

Clare Short: I have not recently met Rosemary Thorp, the current chair of Oxfam. However I do regularly meet with Barbara Stocking, the Director of Oxfam, alongside other Heads of major NGOs.

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