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21 May 2003 : Column 817W—continued
Ministerial Transport
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Minister of State for International Development what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002. [101850]
Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 May by the hon. Member for Paisley South (Mr. Alexander) Official Report, column 663W, ref. 101541 on the estimated cost of ministerial cars and drivers.
DFID currently has two taxi contracts. Their combined cost for the year 2002 was £108,211. We do not hold central records of taxi costs, agreed by departments, paid to other companies and claimed for by individual members of staff.
North Korea
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister of State for International Development if she will make a statement on aid to North Korea. [113463]
Hilary Benn: The UK's policy towards engagement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has resulted in limited but carefully targeted humanitarian contributions. There are many constraints to humanitarian agencies operating in North Korea, including problems of access. The Government of North Korea generally refuses to allow international organisations free and open access to rural areas and forbids post-distribution monitoring and evaluation.
The UK stands ready to provide humanitarian assistance in response to any new sudden humanitarian crisis. DFID contributed just over £2 million to humanitarian assistance projects in 2001–02. This support was channelled through UNICEF for essential drugs, immunisation and water and sanitation activities and through the British Red Cross for disaster preparedness and flood relief.
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DFID is also providing support through the European Community's programme. In 2002, the European Community allocated nearly 6 million Euros (£4,244,000). DFID contributes around 20 per cent. of the European Community's budget.
Palestine
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Minister of State for International Development what assessment the Department has made of the level of poverty of the Palestinian people; and what strategy he is pursuing to alleviate it. [113951]
Hilary Benn: Poverty in the West Bank and Gaza has increased dramatically since the intifada started in September 2000. According to a recent World Bank assessment, some 60 per cent. of Palestinians are now living on less than $2 a day. Unemployment stands at 53 per cent. and many families are now dependent on food aid. A study by UNICEF has also found the incidence of acute malnutrition in Gaza (13.3 per cent.) is comparable to levels in Zimbabwe (13 per cent.) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (13.9 per cent.). Palestinian refugees in neighbouring countries also live in unacceptable circumstances.
The key element of any strategy to reduce poverty sustainably is a successful peaceprocess leading to the establishment of a viable Palestinian state living in peacealongside a secure Israel. Our programme in the West Bank and Gaza provides support for the peace process; capacity building and institutional development; improvements to basic services, and a range of emergency programmes arising from the current conflict.
Secondments
Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2003, Official Report, column 394W, on secondments, if he will list the organisations to which civil servants in his Department have been seconded since 1997–98 in (a) the private sector, (b) NGOs and (c) other, stating in each case the dates of the secondments, the number of civil servants seconded to that organisation and their grade. [114143]
Hilary Benn: The following statistics relate to secondments started in each financial year. Information on location is not available for years 1998–99 to 2000–01. The statistics for this period are based on annual returns to Cabinet Office.
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Notes:
Band A = SEO-G6
Band B = EO/HEO
Band C = AA/AO
21 May 2003 : Column 820W
Tanzania
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Minister of State for International Development what assessment he has made of food insecurity due to lack of rain in the Singida region of Tanzania; and what assistance the Department will provide. [114549]
Hilary Benn: Most parts of Tanzania have experienced exceptionally low rainfall during the current season. Its effects on the June harvest are still unclear. The Government of Tanzania carried out an initial food and crop assessment in May. This will be followed in July by a further assessment to identify particularly vulnerable areas following the June harvest. We await the results of these. DFID is ready to respond to any request the Government of Tanzania may make at that time.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
BBC
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received (a) supporting and (b) opposing advertising on the BBC. [114096]
Dr. Howells: DCMS has received a number of representations from members of the public and Members of this House on advertising. However, information on correspondence is not held in such a way as to permit a detailed breakdown of individual topics or views expressed.
Criminal Offences
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list, broken down by Act, the Criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by her Department since 1997. [111788]
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Dr. Howells [pursuant to his answer, 12 May 2003, Official Report, c.28W]: This answer has been amended to include one offence created by an item of secondary legislation. The number of offences created under the Television Licences (Disclosure of Information) Act 2000 has also been revised from one to two.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has enacted three measures since 1997 which created new criminal offences (one of which was created by secondary legislation). These are the Royal Parks (Trading) Act 2000 which created one offence, the Television Licences (Disclosure of Information) Act 2000 which created two offences, and the Regulatory Reform (Special Occasions Licensing) Order 2001 (IS 2001/3937) which created one offence. The last mentioned Order has been amended on two occasions (by SI 2002/1062 and SI 2002/3205).
Departmental Advertising
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total expenditure on advertising by the Department was in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and what the level of planned expenditure is for (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05. [114437]
Dr. Howells: No advertising campaigns were undertaken by the Department between 2001–03 and, to date, there are no plans for any advertising campaigns between 2003–05.
Departmental Underspending
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to reduce her Department's underspend in 2003–04 from that of 2002–03. [112770]
Dr. Howells: The Department is currently estimating an underspend of £74 million in 2002–03, which is 5.7 per cent. of the total provision. The underspend relates to lower than expected take up of grants under schemes that are essentially demand led. Planned spending for 2003–04 is set out in the Departmental Report CM5920.
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