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10 Mar 2003 : Column 38W—continued
Small Arms
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the conference on small arms proliferation attended by representatives of her Department on 14 to 15 January. [101365]
Clare Short: On 14 and 15 January a conference on Strengthening Export Controls of Small Arms and Light Weapons: Implementing the UN Programme of Action was held at Lancaster House. The Conference was organised by my Department, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence, and was funded from the Global Conflict Prevention Pool. I gave the opening address to delegates. The Conference brought together representatives of 49 States that produce or trade small arms and light weapons, as well as representatives of international and non-governmental organisations, in order to discuss strengthening controls on exports and transfers of small arms and light weapons (SALW).
Some consensus on strengthening export controls had been achieved during the 2001 UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its aspects, and the objective of the Lancaster House conference was to make further progress on this issue. Participants discussed better implementation and strengthening of existing export controls and controlling brokers and trafficking of SALW. The Conference identified those areas where there is now considerable consensus and those requiring further work. A full report of the Conference will be published shortly.
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We will use the further opportunity to achieve greater consensus on strengthening export controls in the margins of the UN Biennial Meeting of States in July 2003.
Sudan
Mr. Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Sudanese Government in relation to aid available to their internally displaced persons in Southern Sudan. [101591]
Clare Short: We have not discussed with the Sudanese Government aid available to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in southern Sudan; however, under the auspices of OCHA, a Displaced Persons Task Force (with representatives from UNDP, UNICEF, IOM and others) has been established to take forward planning for IDP return in the event of peace. The Task Force will also to assist the Sudanese Government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army in planning around IDP issues and establishing an IDP policy framework.
With some four million IDPs, Sudan has largest IDP population in the world. We continue to be deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, particularly in the south. In the decade since 1991 Britain has pledged over £220 million to help with humanitarian crises in Sudan. This financial year, we have committed approximately £10 million to support life-saving humanitarian work, education, peace building activities (including support for the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development Secretariat and monitors for the Nuba Mountains ceasefire), and anti-slavery work.
Trade Liberalisation
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the likely impact on developing countries of trade liberalisation, with particular reference to the control of water supplies. [101873]
Clare Short: The impact on developing countries of trade liberalisation depends on a variety of factors such as the nature and extent of initial trade distortions, whether trade liberalisation is comprehensive or limited to a few sectors, and whether other countries also open up their markets. As a result, estimates of impact vary widely. One assessment by the World Bank indicates that comprehensive multilateral trade liberalisation backed up with increased aid for trade related infrastructure (e.g. roads and ports) could lift an additional 300 million people out of poverty by 2015.
The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) provides the framework for multilateral (WTO) negotiations between countries on the liberalisation of trade in services, including water supply. The GATS is a bottom-up agreement, which means that countries themselves decide whether—and
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when—to open up their service sectors to foreign competition. Nor does GATS require or encourage countries to privatise public services. Should WTO members choose to involve the private sector, there is nothing under the GATS to prevent or pressure them into a specific public or private service delivery model.
My Department's priority is to make sure the poor benefit from improved water and sanitation services, through effective regulation and appropriate tariff structures, including subsidies for the poorest, if required. In all water and sanitation services, whether municipalities chose to involve the private sector or not, the principle of cost recovery is important and must be recognised as central to sustainability. Effective institutions that are accountable, representative and transparent are essential to manage and regulate the water sector.
Wildlife and Poverty Study
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about her Department's Wildlife and Poverty Study. [101363]
Clare Short: My Department endorses the recently published DFID Wildlife and Poverty Study. The study is available on the DFID website at www.dfid.gov.uk.
CABINET OFFICE
Public Information
Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the trends in spending on public information by (a) the UK Government and (b) the European Union in the last five years. [101088]
Mr. Alexander: The UK Government have spent the following on advertising in the last five years.
| Cash expenditure | Prices in real terms(10) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 60, 000 | 65,800 |
| 1998–99 | 106,000 | 110, 600 |
| 1999–2000 | 113, 500 | 114,100 |
| 2000–01 | 192,400 | 186,600 |
| 2001–02 | 162, 600 | 162,600 |
(10) In real terms at 2001–02 prices based on advertising media inflation rates.
Source:
COI.
Advertising is used by Departments when they judge it is the most cost effective way of delivering the publicity necessary to support a policy or proposal. These figures represent the advertising commissioned on behalf of Departments and Agencies by the Central Office of Information. The EC budget finances a variety of EU information programmes, the funding amounts for which are decided on an annual basis by the budgetary authority.
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PRIME MINISTER
Iraq
Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what action he has taken against United Kingdom companies which assisted Iraq in providing equipment and material in support of weapons of mass destruction. [100113]
The Prime Minister: Following the inquiry led by Sir Richard Scott (now Lord Scott of Foscote), the Government has introduced a number of legislative and non-legislative measures to improve the UK export control regime, culminating in the Export Control Act of 2002.
A number of UK companies and individuals were prosecuted for the supply of goods to Iraq in contravention of legislation in force at the time. The prosecutions were subsequently scrutinised by Lord Scott as part of his inquiry.
Any further allegations that there have been breaches of export controls in respect of exports to Iraq would require careful examination by HM Customs and Excise, which is responsible for the enforcement of UK export controls.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister if, in the event of conflict with Iraq, he will issue a statement of the war aims of the United Kingdom, with particular reference to the post-war government of Iraq. [101408]
The Prime Minister: No decision to launch military action against Iraq has been taken. Our policy objectives were set out by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in his written statement of 7 January 2003, Official Report, column 4WS.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to publish the actions which the Government of Iraq must take in order to avoid conflict with Her Majesty's forces, and the maximum length of time in which those actions must be completed; and if he will make a statement. [101502]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to answers I gave at Prime Minister's questions on 5 March 2003, Official Report, columns 808–17.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with other governments about the costs of (a) a conflict in Iraq and (b) the subsequent occupation of the country. [101636]
The Prime Minister: No decision has been taken to launch military action against Iraq. I regularly discuss all aspects of our Iraq policy with other governments.
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister what records the Government has kept of claims by Mr.Hussain Karnell relating to the destruction of weapons by Iraq. [101736]
The Prime Minister: Mr Kamil's claims were dealt with by UNSCOM, not the UK. UNSCOM's files are now the responsibility of UNMOVIC. It is they that have the most complete records of Iraqi disarmament claims which they share by regular reports to the UN Security Council.
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Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister when he first decided that the possible use of military action to disarm or overthrow Saddam Hussein should become British defence policy. [101922]
The Prime Minister: No decision to launch military action against Iraq has been taken. Our policy objectives remain as set out by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in his written statement of 7 January 2003, Official Report, column 4WS. United Nations Security Council resolution 1441(2002) recalls that the Council has repeatedly warned Iraq that it will face serious consequences as a result of its continued violation of its obligations.
Mr. Challen: To ask the Prime Minister if it is the policy of the Government that the second United Nations resolution on the Iraq crisis will invoke Article 42 of the United Nations Charter. [101931]
The Prime Minister: The draft resolution tabled by the UK, US and Spain on 24 February makes it clear that the Security Council would be acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which includes Article 42. It does not make specific reference to individual articles of the Charter.
Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is in respect of providing compensation to families of civilian victims of military action against Iraq. [101995]
The Prime Minister: No decision to launch military action against Iraq has been taken. The UK is committed to acting in accordance with international law.
Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his statement of 25 February 2003, Official Report, column 123, on Iraq, what the evidential basis was for his statement that Saddam Hussein has used much of the money from the oil-for-food programme for his own and his family's personal use. [102072]
The Prime Minister: This information comes from a number of sources, including contracts submitted for approval to the UN Sanctions Committee.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister whether Lord Levy has represented him in discussions with overseas governments on policy towards Iraq. [101412]
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