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Water and Sanitation Projects

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her expenditure plans are for financial assistance for water and sanitation projects, in absolute terms and as a proportion of the Department budget; and what proportion of the Departmental budget was allocated as financial assistance for water and sanitation projects, in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2000–01. [98967]

Clare Short: In financial year 2001–02, my Department spent £87.2 million on water and sanitation related outcomes of various projects across its bilateral assistance programmes. Expenditure in 2000–01 was £90.6 million. In 2001–02, spending on water and sanitation accounted for approximately 6 per cent. of bilateral expenditure (£1,506 million). 70 per cent. of the expenditure, approximately £63 million, was spent on water and sanitation in 2001–02, being split 60:40 between urban and rural. 2001–02 was the first year in recent times that the urban sector received more support than the rural.

In terms of geographical allocation, Asia was the dominant recipient region (47 per cent. in 2001–02 and 42 per cent. in 2000–01), followed by Africa (31 per cent. and 32 per cent. respectively).

New commitments to the water and sanitation sector made during 2001–02 totalled £86.2 million.

Ms Atherton : To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the Department's financial assistance for water and sanitation projects was allocated to institutional capacity and human resources in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02; and what proportion will be allocated in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04. [98976]

Clare Short : My Department's expenditure on water supply and sanitation has remained broadly static between 2000–02, at approximately £63 million, which accounts for 70 per cent. of the total water sector expenditure. Of that, 60 per cent. was allocated to urban and 40 per cent. to rural water and sanitation programmes. Total expenditure in the water sector was £90.6 million in 2000–01 and £87.2 million in 2001–02. Figures are not yet available for 2002–03. New commitments to the water and sanitation sector made during 2001–02 totalled £86.2 million.

We are not able to disaggregate expenditure data to determine precise allocation to specific activities within the water supply and sanitation sector. However the underpinning premise of all our water and sanitation programmes is to build and strengthen institutional capacity and human resource capacity in developing countries.

In addition to our work through our Country programmes, our Knowledge and Research (KAR) programme works to encourage our engagement with Southern institutions to encourage capacity building of formal and informal poor urban communities to improve local water and sanitation services.

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Additionally, through our resource centres, OASIS and WELL, my Department is actively engaging with developing countries and their supporting institutions to build human resource capacity within the water and sanitation sector.

World Food Programme (Southern Africa)

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when figures for the WFP distribution of food aid for Southern Africa for January will be made available. [98823]

Clare Short: The figures for the WFP distribution of food aid for Southern Africa for January are due to be made available in early March.

I will place a copy in the House Library as soon as they become available.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of food shortages in Zimbabwe. [98651]

Clare Short: The latest Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee survey indicates that 7.2 million people are currently in need of emergency food aid. The WFP and bilateral programmes aim to target 40 per cent. of needs, with the Government of Zimbabwe and the private sector responsible for the greater part of the response. Government reports imports of around 700,000 tonnes of maize to date, but the distribution of this food is not transparent, and the private sector has been excluded from participation.

The performance of the World Food Programme and its implementing partners has improved steadily. In January 2003, 3.3 million people were fed, and another 2 million people received supplementary food through bilateral programmes. The WFP is close to meeting its revised target of feeding 4.5 million people in February 2003, and 5 million in March 2003. Contributions and pledges to the WFP emergency appeal mean that the main WFP pipeline is 83 per cent. full until June of 2003.

Prospects for the coming year are under assessment. Insufficient maize was planted and the lack of fertilizers and rainfall raise the prospect of another poor production year. The capacity of the Government of Zimbabwe to continue to import maize in quantity is of concern, and it is already clear that continued international assistance will be needed. Donors are already planning for the future, and urging Government to ease price controls, which are distorting internal markets, and to open importation to the private sector to help meet needs.

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian effects of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Zimbabwe. [98993]

Clare Short: The current FMD outbreak started in August 2001 at the time of the farm invasions, when fences were destroyed and domestic cattle were allowed

to mingle with wild buffalo that carry the disease. Since then the illegal movement of animals and livestock theft has widened the geographic area of the outbreak.

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Although the disease is highly infectious it appears to have a lesser impact in local domestic livestock, which although they become ill rarely die. There are fears however that the disease could spread to the more susceptible dairy animals. Exports of beef, dairy and pork products have been banned, halting the country's US$ 60 million export trade.

As smallholders own most of the cattle in Zimbabwe they are exposed to restrictions on animal movements and receive lower prices for their animals from infected areas. Foreign exchange shortages are limiting efforts to vaccinate animals at risk. Despite the best efforts of the veterinary services to control the outbreak there is neither the funding nor the political will to prevent illegal movement and restore the wildlife fences.

TRANSPORT

Alternative Fuels

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has issued guidelines to local authorities on the installation of facilities for the provision of (a) liquefied petroleum gas and (b) compressed natural gas. [97971]

Mr. Jamieson: Planning Policy Guidance note 13 states that local authorities

"should look favourably at proposals" to provide liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas infrastructure,
"in order to deliver wider environmental objectives".

London Airports (Rail Access)

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of security for rail access to London airports. [98655]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department has objectively assessed all railway stations to ensure the security requirements in place are appropriate depending on the risk.

Transport Security

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of security at (a) transport infrastructure facilities other than airports and (b) railways. [98654]

Mr. Jamieson: In addition to airports, the Department for Transport sets the security standards in the UK for the maritime, Channel Tunnel and railway industries. The Department's security inspectors regularly monitor the security arrangements at, for example, ports, railway stations and the Channel Tunnel to ensure that the required standards are, and continue to be, met.

My Department's approach is to manage the risk to the industries arising from the threat of a terrorist attack. The security measures imposed seek to minimise the industries' vulnerabilities while recognising operational realities. The Government's aim is to set the measures to counter the risk.

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All the security programmes are kept under continuous review. It is not our practice to detail the required security measures for obvious reasons.

Zero-sulphur Fuels

Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what definition the Government uses of zero sulphur road transport fuel; what the present plans are for the introduction of zero sulphur motor transport fuels in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [98045]

Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State for Transport has responsibility for road fuel quality matters.

A Council and European Parliament directive, adopted at 3rd Reading on 6 February 2003, sets a maximum sulphur content of l0mg/kg for all petrol and diesel sold in the EU as from 1 January 2009. Other fuel properties are also defined in this directive, which is due to be published in the Official Journal of the European Community shortly. Fuels to this quality are generally referred to as "sulphur-free" or "zero sulphur" fuel. The Government will be introducing an amendment to the Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations to incorporate the directive requirements later this year.

The directive also requires Member States to ensure that petrol and diesel fuel to this quality is available on an "appropriately balanced geographical basis" from 1 January 2005 in order that it is available for the latest technology vehicles that can take best advantage of it. The Government are considering options, in conjunction with the oil industry, as to how best to achieve this objective.

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