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Water

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned into the environmental impact of water use by consumers since 1997; what estimates have been made of future years; and if she will make a statement. [126181]

Mr. Morley: The Environment Agency has the duty to secure the proper use of water resources, ensuring that there is a balance between the needs of water consumers and the environment. As part of its research programme, the Environment Agency commissions applied research aimed at furthering the understanding of the complex link between water flows and levels and the ecology of rivers, lakes and wetlands.

In 2001 the Agency published national and regional strategies, "Water Resources for the Future", which identified areas where abstraction is believed to be unsustainable.

In 2001 the Environment Agency also published "A scenario approach to demand forecasting" which considered how future water use could be influenced by different socio-economic futures.

Each year water companies update their water resources management plans which project, for each area, how water companies will meet the water supply-demand balance taking into account environmental aspects.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the amount of water which leaked from water company pipes in each year since 1997; what measures she is taking to reduce the number of leaks; and if she will make a statement. [126362]

Mr. Morley: Reported leakage from water companies' pipes since 1997 (in megalitres/day) was as follows:

1996–97: 3,295


1997–98: 2,955


1998–99: 2,618


1999–2000: 2,431


2000–01: 2,365


2001–02: 2,527

Since the Water Summit in 1997, Ofwat has set water companies annual leakage targets. This mechanism has achieved a significant reduction in leakage, both on the distribution network and customers' supply pipes. Most companies are now at, or close to their Economic Level of Leakage. This is the level at which it would cost more for a water company to further reduce its leakage than to use an alternative source of water. Water company leakage data are published annually by the Director General of Water Services in the "Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water" reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Companies' leakage performance for 2002–03 will be published at the end of this month.

Wild Mink

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is on dealing with wild mink in the countryside. [126766]

Mr. Bradshaw: American mink are an invasive non-native species and were introduced into Great Britain for fur farming in 1929. Release of mink into the wild is prohibited under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Their population has continued to increase in range and numbers it is thought the rate of increase is declining.

The responsibility for the control of feral mink rests with those people most likely to benefit from such control, that is, individual landowners and occupiers. It is entirely at their discretion as to whether they wish to take such action against mink on their land.

However, predation by mink has been a factor in the decline of our native water vole population. The Government's Biodioversity Action Plan (BAP) for water vole encourages humane control of mink where they pose a threat to water vole populations.

There are various initiatives under way, limited geographically and financially, including some mink trapping in river catchments, supported by combinations of the Environment Agency (the lead organisation for the water vole BAP), English Nature and the local Wildlife Trusts, and other conservation organisations. These aim for local suppression of mink numbers, for example to assist water vole populations, rather than eradication.

Defra has no current plans for an eradication programme given the wide distribution of mink and the costs associated using current techniques for control.

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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Lynne Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment the Government have made of the overall funds required by Afghanistan for (a) a programme for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants as referred to in the Department's parliamentary briefing paper on Afghanistan of July and (b) reconstruction in (i) the provincial regions and (ii) urban areas. [127039]

Hilary Benn: Japan is the lead nation on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR). In conjunction with the Afghan Transitional Administration and the International Community, Japan has set up the Afghanistan's New Beginnings Programme (ANBP) to implement demobilisation and reintegration programmes as part of security sector reforms. ANBP is a three-year programme estimated to cost $127 million, with an initial budget for the first year of $33 million.

At the recent Tokyo Conference on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration, more than $50 million was pledged by international donors. This is a good start. However, we must keep working on securing financing throughout the process. DFID, working closely with FCO and MOD, are also funding a Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration expert, who has been seconded to the UN in Kabul, to assist with Security Sector Reform.

The Afghanistan Transitional Administration has produced an integrated development plan in the National Development Budget. This covers all reconstruction plans in the provincial regions and urban areas as put forward by the Afghanistan Transitional Administration. Donors have pledged nearly $1.7 billion dollars for 2003–04 for Afghanistan, nearly 90 per cent. of what the Afghanistan Transitional Administration has requested.

AIDS

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assistance the Department provides to African nations in the fight against the AIDS epidemic. [126868]

Hilary Benn: DFID recognises that HIV/AIDS is a terrible human catastrophe and is one of the most important development challenges facing Africa. Over £190 million was committed to programmes focusing on HIV/AIDS and sexual health in sub-Saharan Africa last year, with intensive bilateral activities in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Over £25 million has been committed to support the International Partnership Against AIDS in Africa (IPAA) initiative—a regional, Africa-led initiative aimed at building Governments' national responses to the AIDS crisis, with a focus on Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, and Ghana.

At the global level, DFID has increased HIV/AIDS related expenditure from £38 million in 1997–98 to over £270 million in 2002–03. Considerable additional

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financial support continues to be provided through institutions such as WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPA, and NGOs and civil society organisations in an effort to combat this disease and support those already living with it. The Secretary of State recently announced an additional $80 million commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria bringing our total commitment to $280 million over the period 2001 to 2008.

Baghdad Museum

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what aid the Department is giving towards the refurbishment of Baghdad Museum and its Sumerian collection. [118591]

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development is not giving any assistance towards the refurbishment of Baghdad Museum. DFID's assistance to Iraq is concentrated on supporting the reconstruction efforts and humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. DFID has committed just over £177 million to Iraq in 2003–04.

Burundi

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what recent assessment the Department has made of the humanitarian situation in Burundi. [126397]

Hilary Benn: The DFID Country Representative returned to Bujumbura on 17 July to assess the situation. Recent fighting in the capital has left many civilians killed or injured, and many more have been displaced. The Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) medical centre (supported by DFID) treated 220 war wounded last week.

The general humanitarian situation in the country remains poor, with very high levels of disease, high rates of malnutrition and, resulting from this, high levels of mortality. There are serious problems of access to some communities. Last financial year we provided about £1 million for humanitarian support. So far this financial year we have provided funding of £400,000 through MSF for medical support in Bujumbura Rural and nutrition programmes in Karuzi. We stand ready to make further responses to the humanitarian needs of those most vulnerable. Our humanitarian work focus on nutrition and health support, channelled through international relief organisations.

The 2003 EC budget for humanitarian assistance to Burundi totals US$15 million (about £9.67 million), of which 19.38 per cent. is attributed to the UK.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what funds the Department placed with the Burundi Multidonor Debt Trust Fund in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003; how much of the pledges have been released; and what percentage of released funds have gone to the Africa Union Force. [126398]

Hilary Benn: DFID pledged an initial US$ 1 million to the World Bank Multidonor Debt Trust Fund (MDTF) at the Geneva Roundtable Meeting in December 2001. We agreed to make an additional

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contribution of US$1 million following the Geneva Donors Roundtable Meeting in November 2002. These funds were released in March 2003. We are encouraging other donors to contribute to the MDTF.

The purpose of the MDTF is to help Burundi finance the servicing of its multilateral debt obligations, and so none of its funds will go to the African Mission in Burundi (AMIB). DFID has, however, contributed £3.9 million to AMIB from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool, for equipment costs related to the Mozambican contingent.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what proportion of the Department's humanitarian aid pledged to Burundi has been delivered; and what discussions the Department has had with the European Union concerning its delivery of its commitment. [126399]

Hilary Benn: Last financial year we provided some £1 million for humanitarian work in Burundi. All this has been utilised. For 2003–04 we have earmarked about £2 million for humanitarian work. In June 2003 we provided £400,000 through MSF for medical support in Bujumbura Rural and nutrition programmes in Karuzi covering the period 1 July to 31 December 2003. We are currently considering Appeals for 2003 from international relief organisations and stand ready to make further responses to humanitarian needs through them and proposals received from international NGOs.

We are in close contact with the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) in Burundi through our DFID Country Representative, who meets regularly with other humanitarian donors to ensure a co-ordinated and effective response. We also participate in the European Community's Humanitarian Affairs Committee in Brussels.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what recent discussions the Department had with parties to the conflict in Burundi with respect to international humanitarian law; and what plans he has to bring to justice those guilty of human rights abuses in Burundi. [126400]

Hilary Benn: The UK both bilaterally and as part of the international community regularly raises human rights issues and international humanitarian obligations in relation to the Burundi conflict. The EU is deeply concerned about the ongoing violations of human rights and humanitarian law in Burundi and continues to call on all sides to cease the fighting.

We are also funding the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) which is providing international humanitarian law training for the Burundian Army. We keep in close contact with the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the ICRC in Burundi regarding their work in this area.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what financial and technical assistance the Government is giving to the Burundi Government to help develop an effective system of justice; and who the leading donor is on these issues. [126404]

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Hilary Benn: We have made it clear to the Burundi Government that we are ready to provide support on security sector reform, which could include support to the police should they require it. Belgium is the most active donor in the justice sector and is supporting a number of NGOs.

The EC is also considering providing support to the justice sector.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what recent assessment the Department has made of sexual violence and targeted rape in Burundi in the last year; and what action his Department is taking. [126405]

Hilary Benn: We receive regular reports on the humanitarian and human rights situation in Burundi, including sexual violence, from the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN Office for Human Rights, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) and NGOs such as Human Rights Watch. The UK is active—within the EU, UN and bilaterally—in pressing all the parties involved in the conflict to start fulfilling their humanitarian obligations to the people of Burundi. In terms of financial support, DFID has contributed £400,000 to ICRC's programme in Burundi which includes a project in support of women who are victims of violence.

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