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Yugoslavia

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in de-mining in the former Yugoslavia. [68223]

Clare Short: It has proved difficult to obtain the full details requested from all parts of the FRY. I will write with the details and place a copy in the Library of the House.

Education for All

Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the UK Government have taken in support of the World Bank's Action Plan to Accelerate Progress Towards Education for All; what input the UK delegation had in the discussions on the Education for All initiative at the recent G8 summit in Kananaskis; and how much financial assistance the UK Government plan to provide to the World bank's proposed fast-tracked countries within the Education for All initiative. [68121]

Clare Short: The Government are strongly committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on education and are working to mobilise the international community in support of them. The World Bank has a critical role in supporting countries as they seek to give priority to education, and primary education in particular, within the overall context of their poverty reduction strategies. We have been working with the bank to develop its new Action Plan for Accelerating Progress Towards Education for All.

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We believe the World Bank action plan's fast-track initiative provides an opportunity to try to ensure that no country genuinely committed to economic development, poverty reduction and good governance is denied the chance to achieve universal primary education through lack of resources. The Government were successful in calling for the fast-track initiative to include Nigeria and Ethiopia, where over 14 million children are out of school. If offers 18 poor countries the chance to qualify for additional financing for primary education if they can demonstrate that their Government is fully committed and has effective policies in place. A further five countries can apply for assistance in building capacity, filling gaps in data and developing effective policies for primary education.

At the Kananaskis summit, where G8 leaders considered the education needs of developing countries, the UK endorsed the action plan as an important opportunity to fast-track progress towards Education for All. G8 leaders approved the G8 Education Task Force report, which makes clear the need for increased support for basic education from the G8 countries and the importance of the bank's fast-track initiative in mobilising financial resources. Under its Africa Action Plan, the G8 agreed to increase significantly the support provided bilaterally to basic education for countries in Africa with a strong policy and financial commitment to the sector.

The Government are committed to further increasing our support for basic education, particularly in Africa. We will continue to work with the World bank to support their fast track proposals. Further discussions will be held in Washington on 17 July. This meeting, together with the outcome of the spending review to be announced shortly by the Chancellor, will help determine the level of the Government's additional financial support for basic education in the proposed fast-track countries.

Calgary G8 Meeting

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people attended the G8 meeting in Calgary from her Department; and what the total cost of the visit was. [68392]

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Clare Short [holding answer 10 July 2002]: No officials from the Department for International Development attended the G8 summit meeting in Canada.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking towards tackling hunger in Zimbabwe. [69011]

Clare Short: I have now allocated £32 million to help meet food and health needs in Zimbabwe in the current humanitarian situation.

DFID has provided £4 million since September 2001 for a supplementary feeding programme implemented by NGOs, targeting 400,000 people (mainly children) in the worst hit areas of Zimbabwe. At the beginning of January 2002, we made a contribution of £6 million to the UN's Humanitarian Assistance and Recovery Programme; £3.5 million for WFP feeding programmes and £2.5 million for essential drugs and health supplies through the WHO.

In response to the recent reassessment of needs by the World Food Programme and their new regional appeal, I have allocated a further £22 million for Zimbabwe, of which £7 million will be provided through the WFP appeal; £10 million will be channelled through non- governmental organisations to extend direct feeding programmes; and £5 million will be spent again through NGOs on agricultural recovery. We are monitoring NGO and WFP feeding programmes closely to ensure that they are targeted on a needs basis, and that complaints about political bias are tackled effectively.

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Faith Communities

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list projects involving faith communities which are supported by her Department. [71850]

Clare Short: A full account of projects supported through my Department with faith communities is not held centrally. To provide full details would involve disproportionate cost.

Through DFID country programmes we are supporting initiatives through faith based groups in the provision of services (health, micro credit); in peace-building processes; relief, rehabilitation and disaster preparedness; and in election monitoring and voter education.

We are also providing £7.8 million during 2002–03 to faith based organisations in the UK (Christian Aid, CAFOD and CIIR) through Partnership Programme Agreements. One of the aims of the Christian Aid and CAFOD agreements is to strengthen a global alliance of Christian Churches and other faith groups to eradicate poverty.

In developing faith-specific literature to promote awareness of the Millennium Development Goals and development issues, a series of booklets have been co-produced with a number of faith based groups: Christian (Protestant and Catholic), Jewish, Islamic and Sikh.

We are also supporting 26 projects with UK faith based organisations in a variety of sectors through the Civil Society Challenge Fund—total value £1.5 million in 2002–03. Details are as follows:

Agency	Country	Project	Funding 2002–03 (£)
Islamic Relief	Mali	Gourma Rharous Community Development Programme	44,096
Christian Outreach	Cambodia	Agriculture, Business and Commodity Development Activities	57,851
Youth With a Mission	Uganda	Community Based Health Care	9,845
Quaker Peace	Lebanon	Vocational Training	43,784
SIL UK	Ghana	Adult Education and Development	79,720
World Vision	Burma	Street and Working Children	83,329
World Vision	Burma	Community Based Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation	14,350
World Vision	Laos	Savannekhet Integrated Rural Development Project	39,180
World Vision	Laos	Creating Opportunities	29,406
World Vision	Angola	Luanda Civil Society Strengthening Programme	103,702
World Vision	Armenia	Civic Initiatives Project	83,969
World Vision	Burma	Community Action for HIV/AIDS Support	84,355
World Vision	Indonesia	Maluka Peace and Reconciliation Project	130,584
World Vision	Tanzania	Advocating for FGM Eradication	58,585
World Vision	Uganda	Pokatusa Peace Project	58,136
Aga Khan Foundation	Uganda	Programme for Enhancement of Universal Primary Education	94,588
Aga Khan Foundation	Tanzania	Gender Equity and Children's Rights—Primary Education	34,403
Aga Khan Foundation	Tajikistan	Health promotion	33,585
Leprosy Mission	Guinea	Disability Control/Community Awareness	74,100
Leprosy Mission	India	Community Based Leprosy Control Project	25,066
Leprosy Mission	India	Access to Health Service and Information	70,050
Leprosy Mission	India	Vocational Training for Earning Power	58,564
Tear Fund	Uganda	Kigezi Diocese Water and Sanitation Programme	75,000
Tear Fund	India	Primary Health Care Training Programme	16,112
Christian Outreach (CORD)	Cambodia	Agriculture, Business and Community Development Programme	57,851
Y-Care International	South Africa	Adult Sexual Reproductive Health	39,432

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Uganda

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Sudan regarding the Lords Resistance Army in Northern Uganda. [71370]

Clare Short [holding answer 19 July 2002]: I discussed the activities of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) with the Government of Sudan during my visit to Sudan in January. I have also discussed the LRA with the Ugandans on a number of occasions. Our embassies in Khartoum and Kampala have had regular discussions with the Sudanese and the Ugandans about the LRA in northern Uganda.

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