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9 Dec 2002 : Column 57W—continued
CDC Offices
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the funds proposed to target (a) power and (b) SMEs under the reorganisation of CDC Capital Partners. [85513]
Clare Short: CDC has established a power company to raise capital for investment in poorer developing countries. Aureos, which is a joint venture with Norfund, has launched a Central America Fund and is raising capital for three regional African Funds for SMEs.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has received concerning the re-organisation of CDC Capital Partners; and from whom these representations were received. [85516]
Clare Short: No such representations have been received.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many CDC Capital Partners offices have opened in (a) South Asia, (b) South East Asia, (c) Africa, and (d) Latin America since 1997. [85517]
Clare Short: CDC has opened two offices in South East Asia, two offices in Africa, and three in Latin America since 1997.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has received concerning the impact on development of closing CDC offices in Africa; and from whom these representations were received. [85610]
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Clare Short: No such representations have been received.
Chocolate Producers
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to encourage (a) chocolate producers and (b) supermarket chains in the United Kingdom to (i) transfer to fair trade products and (ii) source chocolate from Ghana. [85398]
Clare Short: DFID is supporting Kuapa Kokoo, a cocoa producers association, and the Day Chocolate Company. In 1999 DFID provided a loan guarantee agreement of #400,000 to Natwest Bank in respect of a loan made to Day Chocolate Company. The Day Chocolate Company has succeeded in encouraging a large number of supermarket chains in the UK (eg Co-op, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Tesco) to stock its products. Furthermore it has succeeded in securing contracts with supermarket chains, such as the Co-op and Sainsbury's, to produce their own brand Fairtrade chocolate products—the cocoa for which is sourced from Ghana.
Democratic Republic of Congo
John Barrett : To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what reports she has received on the origin of the virulent flu outbreak in the Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo; how many people are estimated to be infected with it in the DRC; and what response she has made to the outbreak in the north western region of the DRC; [84982]
- (2) what the suspected cause is of the outbreak of acute respiratory disease in Bosobolo in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if she will make a statement. [85879]
Clare Short : The Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response unit of the World Health Organisation has confirmed the reports of this outbreak at Bosobolo in Equatuer Province of Democratic Republic of Congo. We do not have any information on the origin of the epidemic. What is reported is that as of 22 November, there have been over 4,000 cases of acute respiratory illness, including approximately 500 deaths, since October. The clinical features of the illness include rhinorrhea, headache, arthralgia and respiratory insufficiency. Laboratory confirmation of the cause of this outbreak is pending.
This is a difficult area to get to and communications are poor. Currently, Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF-France), Epicentre and WHO are supporting the Ministry of Health in investigating this outbreak and providing medical services.
We have not provided any direct support to address this problem. However a large element of our humanitarian support to DRC is focused on health. We remain ready to respond if necessary.
John Barrett : To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she is providing to help halt the spread of cholera in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [84988]
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Clare Short: On 20 October 2002, the Ministry of Health, Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 394 cases of cholera including 41 deaths in Kasai Oriental. Cholera is reported in Congo most years. This year DRC reports the third highest number of cases, and the highest death rate from the disease. The surveillance committee (Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF and Health Net International) which was established to control the outbreak has set up five cholera centres and is reinforcing surveillance and community health activities.
Unfortunately it is not only cholera that is a problem in DRC. Almost all indicators demonstrate evidence of an appalling health situation. DFID does not directly support any cholera interventions. However a significant part of our humanitarian programme is aimed at improving general health. Specific projects deliver improved water and sanitation to poor urban communities. Other support provided through the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross is not earmarked and can also be used for such work.
John Barrett : To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the outbreak of haemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [84991]
Clare Short: On 26 November the Minister of Health of the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo reported that eight people had died from a haemorrhagic disease at three widely spread locations in Oriental Province, in the north east of the country. The outbreak has not yet been reported by the Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response Unit of the World Health Organisation.
This area is blighted by continuing fighting between groups that have not signed the peace agreement that continues to hold between the main warring parties. Access to carry out the proper investigations is therefore very difficult. The Minister of Health has called on the belligerents to allow safe access for medical teams.
Economic Changes
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what changes there have been in (a) productivity, (b) income, (c) employment and (d) economic growth in (i) South Asia, (ii) South East Asia, (iii) Africa and (iv) Latin America since the 2000 White Paper 'Making Globalisation Work for the Poor.' [85514]
Clare Short: The 2000 White Paper on Globalisation gave data up to 1998. Since then information for income for 1999 and for economic growth for 2000 has become available. This is presented in the following tables for the standard regions published by the World Bank.
| 1990 | 1998(9) | 1999 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Asia and Pacific | 28 | 15 | 14 |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | 17 | 12 | 15 |
| South Asia | 44 | 40 | 37 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 48 | 48 | 47 |
(9) Revised
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| 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| East Asia and Pacific | 6 | 6 |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | -1 | 2 |
| South Asia | 4 | 2 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 0 | 1 |
Statistics on productivity and employment are collated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The information available is patchy and refers primarily to productivity and employment in the formal sector. Coverage of the informal sector is partial and as a result the ILO data will not necessarily present a complete picture for many developing countries. DFID does not currently have access to this data.
Education Fast Track
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answers of 18 November 2002, Official Report, columns 15–16W, on the education Fast Track Initiative, when she expects (a) India, (b) Pakistan, (c) Bangladesh, (d) DRC and (e) Nigeria to join the Fast Track Initiative. [86124]
Clare Short: The UK has prepared technical notes detailing the analytical work which will need to be done in each of these countries to prepare them for support from the so called Fast Track Initiative. We have proposed to the World bank that these should be discussed at a meeting of FTI partners dedicated to these five countries, with the aim of gaining agreement on the way ahead and support for the process from other agencies.
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to her answers of 18 November 2002, Official Report, columns 15–16W, on the education fast track initiative, what money has been allocated for (a) Burkina Faso, (b) Guinea, (c) Mauritania and (d) Niger following the decision of the World Bank to support the fast track education initiative within these countries. [86125]
Clare Short: The international community has agreed that FTI proposals should be reviewed rigorously by local donor groups, to ensure that they are coherent with each country's existing plans (including Poverty Reduction Strategies and Medium Term Economic Frameworks or their equivalent) and to confirm that countries have the capacity to absorb any additional finance. Specific sums will be allocated by development agencies only when this process is complete.
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answers of 18 November 2002, Official Report, column 15–16W, on the education Fast Track Initiative, what finance will be provided for teacher salaries in countries included in the Fast Track Initiative; what emphasis will be placed on HIV/AIDS education; how many new school buildings will be built, in each country; and whether she estimates that adequate supplies of teachers exist. [86126]
Clare Short: The Fast Track Initiative is intended to be tailored to the needs of individual countries. These issues will therefore be addressed to varying degrees in the proposals which countries are now putting forward. Local donor groups will review the proposals, including
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an assessment of capacity issues. Until all the proposals have been endorsed, it is impossible to say how much finance will be dedicated to teacher salaries, how many school buildings will be constructed, or what the total teacher requirement will be.
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