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19 Dec 2002 : Column 903W—continued

HIV/AIDS

Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries have benefited from the investment by the Department of International Development on HIV/AIDS related bilateral work since last year; and by how much. [88057]

Clare Short: The information requested is set out as follows. Please note these figures do not include expenditure on regional programmes or non region specific work on programmes and research based in the UK.

19 Dec 2002 : Column 904W

HIV/AIDS related expenditure by country

	#000
Afghanistan	351
Angola	0
Bangladesh	17,886
Belarus, Republic of	8
Bolivia	2,294
Brazil	10
Burkina Faso	0
Burma	57
Cameroon	0
Cambodia	906
China	2,426
Cuba	49
Ecuador	83
Ethiopia	92
Ghana	129
Guyana	84
Haiti	72
Honduras	123
India	5,894
Iran	334
Kazakhstan, Republic of	13
Kenya	8,011
Laos	0
Lesotho	74
Macedonia	0
Malawi	15,673
Mali	80
Mexico	42
Moldova, Republic of	12
Mongolia	24
Montserrat	424
Mozambique	7,079
Namibia	166
Nepal	1,886
Nicaragua	90
Nigeria	2,015
Pakistan	2,472
Peru	139
Russian Federation	784
Rwanda	1,072
Senegal	147
Serbia and Montenegro	807
Sierra Leone	408
Somali Democratic Rep	6
South Africa, Republic of	5,570
Sri Lanka	82
Sudan	452
Swaziland	54
Tanzania	46,944
Togo	47
Uganda	2,103
Ukraine	52
Vietnam	76
West Bank and Gaza	575
Yugoslavia	0
Zambia	4,005
Zimbabwe	8,778

Information Communication Technology

Mr. Bercow: Asked the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the progress of the work of the United Nations Development Programme in information and communications technology. [64978]

Clare Short: UNDP has been active in the field of information communication technology (ICT) since 1993 in close to 90 countries through a combination of global, regional and national programmes. In the initial

19 Dec 2002 : Column 905W

phases of its work, UNDP's focus was largely on creating awareness, building capacity, and supporting ICT for development at the community and national level. The focus has now widened following discussions with UNDP's Executive Board in June 2001. UNDP now includes assisting countries with ICT for development policies, the formulation and implementation of prioritised national e-development strategies. Other programme initiatives which signify further progress are that of ICT to enhance democratic governance (e-governance), economic and social development (for example, micro finance, e-business, ICT to support local development) at local and national levels.

Kenya

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of levels of food security in north-west Kenya; and if she will make a statement. [88079]

Clare Short: Following several years of poor rains and drought, the food security situation in north-west Kenya remains precarious. But heavy rainfall is now bringing both immediate respite and better prospects for significant improvements in the availability of water, pasture and browse. For the first time in two years, recovery is now a real possibility. DFID continues to monitor the situation in close collaboration with the Government of Kenya, the UN, NGO's and other donors.

Since 1999, DFID has spent over #18 million on drought-related assistance to Kenya. Most of this has been targeted on the north of the country.

New Partnership for Africa's Development

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on the African Peer Review Mechanism within NEPAD on (a) economic values, (b) governance values and (c) corporate values. [87213]

Clare Short: At the Abuja meeting of the NEPAD Implementation Committee, 13 countries signed up for peer review. The full details of the process will be settled in January, but we understand that a group of eminent persons will oversee reviews carried out by technical experts. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa will be involved in the technical reviews of economic governance, and has had a series of useful exchanges on the process of peer review with the OECD DAC.

Poverty Reduction

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance her Department is providing in 2002–03 to (a) Bolivia, (b) Pakistan and (c) India in support of policy reforms and poverty reduction measures. [67484]

Clare Short: The information is as follows:

Bolivia We have allocated some #10 million for our total bilateral development assistance programme for 2002–03 in Bolivia. Additionally, Bolivia will benefit

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from DFID funds contributed to multilateral organisations such as the World bank and IADB, through grants to civil society organisations. The EC is providing #80.7 million for 2002–06, of which DFID's share is around 19 per cent.

We have now moved away from supporting discrete bilateral projects to support for government-led policy reforms within the context of the Bolivian poverty reduction strategy, concentrating on adding value to the international community's support to Bolivia's development effort. We are focusing our support in two areas—the integration of economic and social policy, recognising the key role of the informal economy for poor people's livelihoods, and enhancing social inclusion and participation in political processes within a more accountable and transparent institutional framework.

India DFID has allocated #230 million of development assistance to India in financial year 2002–03. The EC is providing #17.9 million in 2002–03, of which DFID's share is around 19 per cent.

Our development programme in India, where on in three of the world's poor live, is aimed at helping Government, at both national and state level, to deliver pro-poor policies and services. We are working closely with four partner states committed to poverty reduction, including on their programmes of fiscal and public service reform.

We are also working on increasing access to basic health, education, and water and sanitation services for the poor, on promoting better management of the natural and physical environment, and on promoting greater empowerment of the poor, especially women and the marginalised.

Pakistan DFID has allocated #60 million of development assistance to Pakistan in financial year 2002–03, of which #40 million is financial aid. #105.7 million is being provided by the EC for 2002–06, again with DFID's share being around 19 per cent.

We are committed to supporting Pakistan's economic and social development for the long haul. The ultimate aim is the reduction of poverty as set out in the Government of Pakistan's interim poverty reduction strategy paper.

DFID's bilateral programme is focused on three objectives: creating the economic conditions for poverty reduction; improving health outcomes for poor people and improving education outcomes for poor people.

River Congo

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2002, Official Report, column 62W, on the River Congo, what preventive measures are being taken to reduce the impact of a flooding of the river. [88148]

Clare Short: DFID funds a number of humanitarian agencies in DRC that specialise in interventions to minimise the effects of man made and natural disasters. Specifically, the United Nations Office for the

19 Dec 2002 : Column 907W

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs operates an emergency response programme to which DFID has contributed #500,000. The International Committee of the Red Cross is also mandated to respond to provide humanitarian assistance, should urgent needs arise. DFID is in the process of finalising a contribution of #2.5 million to the ICRC for DRC. We have also provided support to an OXFAM water and sanitation programme in Kinshasa. Effective intervention in this sector will be critical if significant flooding does occur.

South Africa

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department is giving in 2002–03 to provide safe water for the people of South Africa; and if she will make a statement. [87869]

Clare Short: My Department anticipates spending #1.36 million on water and sanitation in South Africa in 2002–03. A new #11.54 million DFID support programme started in September 2002. The programme will run for five years, with an anticipated spend in 2003–04 of #2.9 million.

In addition, we contribute around #2.7 million per year to EU water and sanitation programmes in South Africa.

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the US Aid Padco Report on water privatisation in South Africa. [87870]

Clare Short: I have made no assessment of the report. The report was commissioned by the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Unit, a body set up by, and accountable to, the South African Department of Provincial and Local Government, using funding from USAID. It is part of a broad series of small research projects to help inform the Government of South Africa's policy thinking around PPPs.

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had on water privatisation in South Africa with (a) the South African Municipal Workers Union and (b) non-governmental organisations working in the country. [87871]

Clare Short: My Department has not engaged in bilateral discussions on the subject of water privatisation with either the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) or NGOs. However, SAMWU and the NGO community are represented on both the Water Sector Leadership Group (WSLG) and the Steering Committee for the SA Government's Masibambane water and sanitation programme. My Department is also represented on both committees. The subject of water privatisation has on occasions been discussed at both the Masibambane meetings and WSLG.

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