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23 Oct 2002 : Column 323W—continued
HIPC Initiative
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much debt has been repaid by (a) Malawi, (b) Mozambique and (c) Zambia under the HIPC initiative so far this year. [75055]
Clare Short: Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia have all qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. Both Malawi and Zambia have reached their Decision Point and are already receiving interim debt relief. Malawi's estimated debt service payments for the first six months of 2002 is US$35.5 million, and Zambia's foreign debt service was US$24 million in the first four months of 2002. Mozambique has completed the HIPC process and is receiving full debt relief. In 2002, Mozambique is scheduled to pay US$56 million in debt service. Following debt relief, resources are being freed up for social expenditure to reduce poverty in these countries.
Rwanda
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's estimate is of the percentage of UK aid spent on
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Clare Short: The UK Government have committed $200 million to The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria. Rwanda is to receive $14.6 million from this fund to tackle HIV/AIDS and TB.
This financial year we aim to deliver #19 million from our total bilateral assistance of #33.2 million through budgetary support, which will be paid directly into the Government of Rwanda's central budget to reduce poverty. Within this budget HIV/AIDS is recognised as a high priority.
We have also committed #3.2 million to Rwanda through a regional HIV/AIDS project and #600,000 in HIV/AIDS education as part of our sector support to education in Rwanda over the next three years.
Famine (Africa)
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people she estimates are suffering from malnutrition as a result of famine in (a) Mauritania, (b) Mali, (c) Senegal,
- (d) Eritrea, (e) Ethiopia, (f) Zambia, (g) Angola,
(h) Zimbabwe, (i) Mozambique, (j) Lesotho and
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Clare Short: Figures for malnutrition are not comprehensively available, but recent assessments of vulnerable populations unable to buy or grow enough of their own food are:
| Mauritania | 0.75 m |
| Mali | No humanitarian crisis currently reported |
| Senegal | No humanitarian crisis currently reported |
| Eritrea | 1.04 m |
| Ethiopia | 6.3 m |
| Zambia | 2.9 m |
| Angola | 1.8 m (increasing to 1.9 m by end of 2002) |
| Zimbabwe | 6.7 m |
| Mozambique | 0.59 m |
| Lesotho | 0.65 m |
| Malawi | 3.3 m |
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what impact she estimates the dispute over non-acceptance by African Governments of genetically-modified grain supplied by the World Food Programme will have on famine relief efforts in the region. [76100]
Clare Short: Zambia is the only country which has refused so far to accept grain containing genetically modified material. The effect is to make it more difficult for the World Food Programme to meet emergency needs in the country. Over the months of October and November around 27,000 tonnes which are in the pipeline (about 40 per cent. of the food aid requirements for the two months) will not be distributed in Zambia if the current ban is maintained. In that case, it seems likely that the Government of Zambia would have to resort to more expensive and slower options in order to meet the needs.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her assessment is of the threat to human life being caused by the famine in Africa; and if she will make a statement. [76221]
Clare Short: Some 14 million people in southern Africa are at risk and face severe food shortages. Within this number vulnerability varies. Many people are exceptionally vulnerable because they have HIV or AIDS. The international community is working to try to ensure that the shortages do not become a catastrophe.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the extent to which commitments made by the UK and other countries with regard to responding to the famine in Africa have been met. [76220]
Clare Short: All of the #44.75 million I committed in June 2002 has been allocated to programmes which are now under way. Further allocations were made before that and since bringing total UK support to #72.08 million. Figures for expenditure against commitments are not available for other donors; but the US is well on its way to delivering its commitment of 500,000 tonnes of grain for calendar 2002, and the European Commission has met its commitment to provide
$ 60 million to the World Food programme (bringing its total commitments to the six affected countries this year to 148.5 million euros).
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Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions the Government, in conjunction with the World Food Programme, has had with those African countries affected by famine regarding the supply of genetically-modified grain as part of relief efforts. [76101]
Clare Short: Staff from our offices in Malawi and Zambia have been involved in discussions with the World Food Programme and Governments on the acceptance of grain containing genetically modified material as food aid. In Malawi the Government has proposed that GM maize is milled before distribution. We and other donors are discussing how to do this with minimum delay in distribution to beneficiaries. In Zimbabwe DFID officials have supported the World Food Programme in negotiations with the Government over the acceptance of such grain, but have had no direct contact with the Government. I have spoken and written to President Mwanawasa of Zambia on this issue, and my Department hosted a fact finding visit by Zambian scientist to London on 23 and 24 September.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to support those African countries affected by famine. [76222]
Clare Short: We have spent #72.08 million on humanitarian assistance in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho and Swaziland since September 2001. This is going towards feeding programmes, other essential supplies, agricultural inputs for the next season, logistics and personal support for the World Food Programme. Through our Southern Africa Humanitarian Crisis Unit in Johannesburg we are helping to strengthen and co-ordinate the international response.
Developing Countries
Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what she is doing to help developing countries protect their infant industries until they are strong enough to compete in world markets and to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of these industries. [76272]
Clare Short: There is mixed evidence on the effectiveness of infant industry protection. We believe that a multilateral trade system built on the principles of non-discrimination and market opening, combined with providing assistance to enterprise development across the board, is the best way of increasing the efficiency and competitiveness in developing countries.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Drug Offences
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug offences were (a) recorded, (b) prosecuted and (c) the subject of convictions in each month since June 2000 in the Lambeth division of the Metropolis; on how many occasions in each month (i) formal and (ii) informal warnings were given to illegal users; and on how many occasions supplies of drugs were confiscated. [67192]
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Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 5 July 2002]: Information relating to possession and trafficking (including unlawful supply, possession with intent to supply unlawfully, etc) of all classes of drugs for each month from June 2000 to June 2002 in the London Borough of Lambeth is given in Table 1. Drugs were found and confiscated in all these incidents. The table presents information on the number of offences recorded and ''clear-ups'' involving charges or summonses. The Metropolitan Police do not record details of convictions; and information from the Home Office Court Proceedings database is not yet available for 2001 and 2002.
Note:
(1) Offences detected and police action initiated.
Source:
Metropolitan Police Service
Data on the number of defendants proceeded against and found guilty of drug offences in the borough of Lambeth are not available.
Details of informal warnings for the period July 2001—June 2002 are given in Table 2.
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| 2001 | Informal warnings given |
|---|---|
| July | 19 |
| August | 23 |
| September | 39 |
| October | 35 |
| November | 44 |
| December | 51 |
| 2002 | Informal warnings given |
|---|---|
| January | 67 |
| February | 50 |
| March | 115 |
| April | 95 |
| May | 100 |
| June | 241 |
Source:
Metropolitan Police Service
Details of the number of arrests for Class A drugs offences in Lambeth during the period July 2000—June 2002 are given in Table 3.
Source:
Metropolitan Police Service
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