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3 Jun 2003 : Column 258W—continued

Botswana

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development (1) what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Botswana regarding the bushmen of the Kalahari desert; and if she will make a statement; [115618]

(2) what recent discussions the Secretary of State has had with the Government of Botswana regarding the bushmen of the Kalahari; and if he will make a statement. [116034]

Hilary Benn: The Secretary of State visited Botswana on 1–2 April 2003 as Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa. During her visit she discussed with the Government of Botswana the issue of the relocation of the bushmen from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Her discussion was the latest in a continuing dialogue between the two Governments about the bushmen and about wider poverty issues in Botswana.

Burma

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how much direct aid the Department has given to Burma (a) to help the internally displaced peoples on the eastern border of Burma and (b) for environmental projects in the last year for which figures are available. [115442]

Hilary Benn: DFID did not provide funding for programmes specifically focused on internally displaced people in Burma in 2002–03. However, internally displaced people are likely to be among the beneficiaries of a UNICEF-led immunisation programme in Burma for which DFID provided £567,000 in 2002–03. In addition, part of DFID's £1.5 million support for work in Burma by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 2002–03 contributed to meeting water and sanitation needs in areas with internally displaced people. DFID did not provide funds for environmental projects in Burma in 2002–03.

3 Jun 2003 : Column 259W

Burundi

John Barrett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what representations he has made to the Government of Burundi regarding the priority placed on the supply of anti-retroviral drugs to HIV/AIDS sufferers in that country. [116716]

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development is supporting the National AIDS Council in Burundi through the International Partnership against AIDS in Africa (IPAA), with a contribution for Burundi of £4.15 million over the three years to March 2005. Burundi has been successful in obtaining significant resources for Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) from the Global Fund (to which DFID has contributed $200 million) and the World bank.

CDC Capital Partners

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the progress of CDC Capital Partners managed investment funds within the last 12 months. [115349]

Hilary Benn: Since the strategic review of CDC in 2002, the organisation has yet to launch any new dedicated managed investment funds.

CDC currently manages and continues to invest our three existing managed funds, Commonwealth Africa Investment Fund; South Asia Regional Fund; and Nandi Investments. CDC's joint venture, Aureos Capital, has already raised funds from third party investors for a Central American SME fund and is in the process of raising funds for three regional African SME funds.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the privatisation of CDC Capital Partners. [115351]

Hilary Benn: CDC Capital Partners, the trading name of CDC Group plc, a company wholly owned by the government, was established in 1999 as a result of the Commonwealth Development Corporation Act. We have no plans to privatise this company. We are however currently in the process of preparing for its re-organisation. The purpose and format of this re-organisation were set out in a Written Statement tabled by the Secretary of State for International Development on 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 37WS. It was also described in evidence given by Ministers, officials and CDC management to the Select Committee on International Development in December 2002.

Since then, preparations have been proceeding on the lines described and it is hoped to reach agreement with a view to implementing the plans by the end of the year. I plan to table a further Written Statement in due course.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on CDC Capital Partners investment strategy in sub-Saharan Africa; and whether it has changed in the last 12 months. [115352]

3 Jun 2003 : Column 260W

Hilary Benn: Following a strategic review in 2002, it was concluded that CDC would narrow its focus and concentrate on making investments in defined geographies and sectors—primarily, Africa and South Asia and the SME and power sectors. It is intended that CDC will raise third party funds for Africa later this year.

Over the past 12 months, CDC has made some significant new investments within the power, agribusiness and consumer business sectors in Africa. Its joint venture, Aureos Capital, is in the process of raising funds for three regional African SME funds. CDC remains committed to growing sustainable businesses in Africa.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what plans there are to attract private capital investors in CDC Capital Partners. [115353]

Hilary Benn: There are no plans to attract private capital investors in CDC Capital Partners as such.

However, the mobilisation of private capital for the benefit of poorer developing countries is the fundamental objective of the proposed reorganisation of CDC. As part of this re-organisation, it is planned that CDC's investments will be made through specialised funds, dealing with specific sectors or geographical areas. Private sector co-investment into these funds will be actively sought and it is expected that fund raising will start later this year.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the progress of CDC Capital Partners in attracting private sector co-investment. [115354]

Hilary Benn: In August 2002, it was announced that, from 2003, CDC would organise its investment activities through specialised funds. This reorganisation is progressing well and it is intended that fund raising, which will include attracting private sector co-investment, will start later this year.

CDC's joint venture, Aureos Capital, has already raised funds from third party investors for a Central American SME fund and is in the process of raising funds for three regional African SME funds.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will list (a) the countries in which CDC Capital Partners has opened offices since July 2002, (b) the location of those offices and (c) the staff assigned to each office. [115358]

Hilary Benn: No new offices have been opened since July 2002.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what rate of return has been achieved on each CDC Capital Partners investment by (a) sector and (b) country since 1997. [115360]

Hilary Benn: The cost involved in gathering all the data requested would be disproportionate.

However, CDC's annual overall portfolio performance before costs since 1997 has been as follows.

3 Jun 2003 : Column 261W

	Per cent.
1998	-5.3
1999	+7.9
2000	-0.1
2001	-10.3
2002	+6.4

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Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will list the (a) assets, (b) liabilities, (c) equity and retained earnings and (d) net income of CDC Capital Partners in each of the last five quarters. [115364]

Hilary Benn: The information requested is as follows:

CDC Capital Partners—Balance Sheet Analysis£ million

	March 2002	June 2002	September 2002	December 2002	March 2003
Total Assets Under Management	861.8	827.6	806.7	805.1	801.6
Fixed Assets	26.0	25.8	25.6	25.4	25.0
Short Term Deposits and Cash	191.5	219.6	270.3	256.3	258.2
Other Net Current Assets	-44.1	-26.2	-33.1	-51.0	-38.0
Amounts Falling Due After More Than One Year	-28.6	-29.6	-29.8	-25.4	-25.4
Total Assets Less Total Liabilities	1,006.6	1,017.2	1,039.7	1,010.4	1,021.4
Loans From Government	-755.0	-755.0	-755.0	-755.0	-755.0
Net Assets	251.6	262.2	284.7	255.4	266.4
Share Capital	10.0	10.0	10.0	10.0	10.0
Reserves	241.6	252.2	274.7	245.4	256.4
Total Capital and Reserves	251.6	262.2	284.7	255.4	266.4

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will list CDC Capital Partners (a) investments and (b) disposals by (i) sector, (ii) size and (iii) country since July 2002. [115365]

Hilary Benn: I have placed spreadsheets in the Library, entitled "CDC Capital Partners Investments" which give the relevant information.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what level of debts has been accrued by CDC Capital Partners in the form of government loans allocated by the Department. [115366]

Hilary Benn: CDC Capital Partners took over £755 million in interest-free loans made to the former Commonwealth Development Corporation by DFID. No new loans have been made to CDC Capital Partners since then.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how many Commonwealth nationals employed by CDC Capital Partners have been made redundant since July 2002. [115367]

Hilary Benn: 16 Commonwealth (including UK) nationals have been made redundant since July 2002. This is mainly due to office closures or the fact that certain CDC-employed Commonwealth nationals have bought out a business from CDC or have stayed with the new owners of a business that CDC has sold.

Since July 2002, CDC has taken on in employment 31 Commonwealth nationals. CDC's total staff levels have increased by one since July 2002, rising from 303 to 304.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will list CDC Capital Partners agricultural (a) investments and (b) disposals (i) by country and (ii) by sector since July 2002. [115368]

Hilary Benn: Since July 2002, the following new agricultural/agribusiness investments have been made:

Company	Country	Sector
Flamingo Holdings	Kenya	Integrated horticultural business

During this period, CDC also provided further finance for Sulmac, Big Falls and ACI (all mentioned in the following table). CDC also invested further in Del Oro (Costa Rica), an orange juice production company in Costa Rica.

The following disposals have been made:

Company	Country	Sector
Del Oro	Belize	Orange juice production
Sulmac	Kenya	Horticultural business
Lake Harvest Fish Farm	Zimbabwe	Fish farming
Aquacorporacion International	Costa Rica	Fish farming
Big Falls Plantation	Belize	Orange growing

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