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Sub-Saharan Africa

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what the value is of new investments made in sub-Saharan Africa by CDC Capital Partners by (a) country and (b) sector in the last 12 months; and what the projected value is of new investments in the area by (i) country and (ii) sector in the next 12 months. [115350]

Hilary Benn: Since July 2002, approximately £133 million has been invested in sub-Saharan Africa.

Countries	£000
Pan Africa	17
Cote D'Ivoire	53
Kenya	14,000
Mauritius	470
Mozambique	609
Nigeria	228
South Africa	20,750
Swaziland	358
Tanzania	96,622

	£000
Sectors
Power	113,017
Agribusiness	15,300
Minerals/oil/gas	3,000
Funds	1,300
TMT	281
Financial Services	34
Infrastructure	75

It is not possible to comment on projected values over the next 12 months. It will depend on a variety of factors.

Tax Relief (Drugs)

Mr. Caton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment the Department has made of the impact on African nations of giving tax relief for research on the development of beneficial drugs. [119187]

Hilary Benn: The UK Government is committed to significantly improving access to medicines in developing countries. We need to tackle all the factors affecting access if we are to make lasting improvements.

Those factors recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that can improve poor people's access to medicines are: affordable pricing, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems, and the rational selection and use of existing drugs.

Clare Short chaired a High Level Working Group on Increasing Access to Essential Medicines in the Developing World, which examined these issues in detail and made a series of recommendations for action in its report of November 2002. Officials across Whitehall are taking forward these recommendations with key stakeholders.

One recommendation was to encourage companies to increase research and development into medicines and vaccines for diseases prevalent in developing countries,

17 Jun 2003 : Column 126W

namely TB, malaria and relevant strains of HIV/AIDS, taking forward implementation of the R&D tax credits announced in the Budget. The special tax relief for companies developing drugs and vaccines for TB, malaria and HIV/AIDS applies to expenditure incurred on or after 22 April 2003. As it is claimed by companies when they complete their tax returns, which they can submit up to 12 months after the end of the accounting period in question, the Inland Revenue do not yet have any information on claims.

TREASURY

Government Contracts

Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of Government contracts have been awarded to social enterprises since 1997; and if he will list these. [119615]

Mr. Boateng: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Energy Efficiency

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the use of financial incentives to encourage the use of domestic energy efficient products. [119062]

John Healey: The Government have already introduced a range of measures to promote energy efficiency in the home. The Government have reduced the rate of VAT to 5 per cent. on the grant-funded installation of new central heating systems and heating appliances, factory-insulated hot water tanks, micro combined heat and power systems, and renewable energy heating systems in the homes of the less well-off. The Government have also reduced VAT to 5 per cent. on the installation of specific energy-saving materials.

The Government consulted on economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency during 2002 and a summary of responses has been published on the HMT website. Budget 2003 announced that, in the light of this initial consultation, the Government will shortly undertake further detailed consultation on specific measures to encourage household energy efficiency.

The Government have also introduced other measures to improve the energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty in the domestic sector, including the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) and Warm Front.

The EEC requires gas and electricity suppliers to encourage and assist their domestic customers to reduce energy consumption and to meet targets for quantified energy savings. Households on income and disability related benefits are currently provided with at least 50 per cent. of the benefits from the EEC.

Since its launch in June 2000, the Warm Front Scheme, which provides packages of insulation and heating measures worth up to £2,500 to private sector households in receipt of certain benefits, has assisted over 500,000 households, helping improve the comfort levels and living conditions of some of the most vulnerable members of society.

17 Jun 2003 : Column 127W

Euro

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the capacity of the Bank of England to act as lender of last resort in the event of UK entry to the eurozone. [112284]

Mr. Boateng: As stated in the EMU study Policy frameworks in the UK and EMU, published on 9 June alongside the assessment of the five economic tests,

"The UK Government, in line with others, believes that lender of last resort operations remain a national responsibility for euro area members."

Export Control Act

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Customs and Excise have contributed to the review of the secondary legislation made under the Export Control Act 2002. [119314]

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise were consulted throughout the drafting stage of the secondary orders for the Export Control Act 2002.

Iraq

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 7 May 2003, Official Report, column 687W, whether Iraqi imports will now be eligible for the reduced rate of customs duty under the Generalised System of Preferences. [119215]

John Healey: Eligibility under the Generalised System of Preferences is strictly a matter for the European Commission.

Iraqi exporters cannot start to use GSP until administrative arrangements between the European Commission and the appropriate Iraqi authority are in place.

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Customs and Excise have changed the treatment of Iraqi goods coming into the UK since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1483. [119322]

John Healey: As set out by the Department of Trade and Industry in a Notice to Importers, Import restrictions on goods from Iraq coming into the UK have been lifted in accordance with UN Resolution 1483, with the exception of cultural objects. All other imports from Iraq will be treated in the same way as all third country imports.

Productivity (Planning Regulations)

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission an update to the 1998 report Driving Productivity and Growth in the UK Economy by the McKinsey Global Institute, with particular reference to the impact of planning regulations on UK productivity. [119308]

Keith Hill: I have been asked to reply.

Commissioning research on the impact of the planning system is primarily a matter for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

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The 1998 McKinsey study was not commissioned by the Government. Planning was only a small aspect of the study. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no proposal to commission further research to explore this issue.

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Treasury has taken with regard to productivity issues relating to planning guidelines, in response to the conclusions of the 1998 McKinsey Global Institute study of UK productivity. [119309]

John Healey: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has responsibility for planning guidelines and, with the rest of the Government, has taken steps to develop proposals for reform of the planning system. The Deputy Prime Minister set out these proposals in "Sustainable Communities: Delivering through Planning", published in July 2002, provided further details in "Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future", in February 2003 and most recently updated the House on progress in "Sustainable Communities: Delivery through Planning" on 5 June 2003.

Budget 2003 also set out specific steps on retail planning and development:

"Productivity in the UK retail sector lags that in competitor economies. The planning system may be one of the factors affecting productivity if it restricts competition, innovation and choice. The Government is committed to ensuring the viability and vitality of town centres, and will review its guidance on planning for retail development to ensure that this is achieved alongside improvements in productivity. Revised guidance will encourage proactive planning for town centres and multi-level retail development to reduce land take. The Government will also ask Regional Planning Bodies to consider the need for, and broad location of, major new retail and distribution facilities in Regional Spatial Strategies."

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