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Human Rights

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what measures the Department is taking to promote human rights in (a) Cuba and (b) Afghanistan. [124368]

Hilary Benn: We do not have a bilateral government-to-government aid programme to Cuba nor do we have plans to develop one. As a member of the EU we support the EU Common Position on Cuba which requires the Government of Cuba to enhance democracy and safeguard human rights as a pre-condition for establishment of a formal framework agreement. This Common Position is now under review as part of a range of measures that the EU has implemented in response to the recent deterioration in human rights.

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The promotion of human rights underpins DFID's strategy in Afghanistan. All our work seeks to promote human rights, and to improve Afghans' ability to participate in civic and political life. DFID aims to achieve this by supporting specific activities, such as livelihoods and humanitarian projects aimed at helping the most vulnerable, while also supporting the development of a democratic, inclusive state that can provide security and basic services to its citizens.

Human Trafficking

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what aid has been given to agencies to provide support and assistance to victims of human trafficking for sexual reasons; what discussions she has had with (a) European and (b) other counterparts on the issue; and if he will make a statement. [124848]

Hilary Benn: The trafficking of people is part of a wider set of issues related to the migration of poor people to better their lives, and to their vulnerability to national and international smugglers and traffickers. Trafficking is an international problem requiring co-ordinated action. DFID's role is to work to eliminate the poverty and social injustice that can lead to such abuse. Through our programmes to promote sustainable development and end poverty, DFID is helping to reduce the circumstances that give rise to this appalling trade, and which make women and children especially vulnerable. With other Government Departments, we are supporting the efforts of Governments and international agencies to strengthen social protection and justice in line with the international treaty framework covering these issues.

For example, in south-east Asia, we are supporting the International Labour Organisation's work to reduce the trafficking of women, many of whom would enter the sex industry, in Laos, Thailand, China (Yunnan), Cambodia and Vietnam. It involves a number of activities to raise awareness and prevent the trade. In the Balkans we recently supported the International Organisation for Migration in training the various agencies dealing with the victims of trafficking, including police, social workers and the legal profession, in order to create and disseminate models of good practice.

I have had to date no discussions with my counterparts on this specific issue.

Iraq

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the provision of humanitarian aid in Iraq. [124429]

Hilary Benn: DFID has so far committed £154 million in the current crisis—including £35 million announced on 26 June in response to the United Nations Revised Humanitarian Appeal for Iraq of 23 June. Most of this finance is channelled through organisations such as United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and NGOs, which have the capacity

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and expertise to mount operations quickly and effectively on the ground. A further £56 million is available to meet additional needs as they emerge.

On 3 July I placed in the Library of the House details of this funding, and the work that has been undertaken so far.

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what proportion of the population in each district of Iraq is (a) homeless, (b) living in temporary accommodation and (c) living on food rationing. [124633]

Hilary Benn: Reliable statistics for homeless people and those living in temporary accommodation in Iraq are not available. It is estimated that, before the recent conflict, between 600,000 and 800,000 people were displaced in the north of Iraq, mainly from Kirkuk and Mosul, by the Saddam regime's Arabisation policies and inter-ethnic fighting; and between 100,000 and 300,000 Shia people were displaced in the south following the Gulf War and state-sponsored drainage of the marshes. Assessments are being made of displacement that has resulted from the recent conflict. These include Arab families who were living in homes now being reclaimed by returning Kurds; and a number of families rendered destitute by war damage and looting.

The Iraqi Ministry of Trade's Public Distribution System for food aid, which was re-launched on 1 June 2003, aims to distribute food rations to the entire Iraqi population of 27 million people. The World Food Programme estimates that the June ration reached about 95 per cent. of intended recipients.

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what percentage of the population in each district in Iraq have (a) access to clean water in their homes and (b) full time electricity. [124634]

Hilary Benn: Reliable statistics are not available by district in Iraq. Maintaining both clean water and electricity supplies has been a high priority for the coalition since the end of the recent conflict.

In 2000, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF estimated that 48 per cent. of people in rural areas and 96 per cent. of people in urban areas had access to clean drinking water. The International Committee of the Red Cross has worked well with other humanitarian organisations, the UK military and local authorities to repair water facilities and provide water by alternative means while supplies have been disrupted, primarily by looting, after the recent conflict. The situation in many parts of the country, including Basra, Kirkuk and Mosul is now improving. Baghdad is now receiving 70 to 90 per cent. of its pre-war water supplies.

Electricity installations did not sustain significant damage during the recent war, but power supplies are very variable as a result of previous lack of maintenance and subsequent looting and sabotage. Generation capacity is estimated at 50 to 60 per cent. of the country's needs.

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Media Training

Mr. Flight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what the cost was to his Department of media and voice training for ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [123119]

Hilary Benn: My department does not hold these costs centrally. However, in the last six financial years DFID is aware of spending on media and voice training only for officials as follows:

	£
2002–03	793
2001–02	0
2000–01	588
1999–2000	250
1998–99	0
1997–98	0

Notes:

The cost in 2002–03 and 2000–01 was for media training for one official in each year.

The cost for 1999–2000 represents voice coaching for two officials.

A more detailed answer could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as this would involve disaggregating the cost of media and voice training from the cost of other courses which may contain elements of media and voice training.

Middle East

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the Department's assessment of the effectiveness of the principle of regional cumulation of goods in promoting (a) economic co-operation and (b) trade integration in the Middle East. [124172]

Hilary Benn: EU and Mediterranean partner trade ministers meeting in Palermo on 7 July 2003 agreed to extend the system of pan-European cumulation of origin to the Mediterranean partners (Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey). Cumulation of origin means goods can be processed using inputs from any source within the Euro-Mediterranean area, and take advantage of the system of preferential tariffs, which currently exists between Europe and the Mediterranean partners. As such, it should help to foster economic integration between Mediterranean partners and with Europe, enable goods to be produced more efficiently through sourcing the cheapest inputs, and encourage economies of scale. A subsequent assessment of the effectiveness of this agreement will eventually be possible.

Ministerial Meeting

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development which countries will be attending the Cancun Ministerial Meeting this September; and if he will make a statement. [124523]

Hilary Benn: We expect most, if not all, of the 146 members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to attend the 5th Ministerial meeting in Cancun in September. We recognise, however, that the ability and resources of some developing country members to

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participate meaningfully in WTO negotiations can be limited. As a result, the Government have offered £40,000 to a WTO Trust Fund to enable Ministers and officials from the least developed countries to attend the meeting in Cancun.

More generally, the Government have committed to spending £45 million by 2004 on trade related capacity building. Activities funded include improving developing countries' ability to negotiate favourable deals in the WTO talks trade negotiations, helping them interpret trade agreements, and supporting them in taking advantage of new international trading opportunities.

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