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General Agreement on Trade in Services

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has conducted an assessment of the development impact of the General Agreement on Trade in Services. [132430]

Hilary Benn: The ability to assess the domestic economic and social impact of commitments taken under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is of vital importance to developing countries. Meaningful assessments will help ensure that the

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commitments they take on are in line with, and contribute to, wider economic growth and poverty reduction policies.

It is important that such assessments are conducted by developing countries themselves in the process on making their own decisions during the GATS negotiations. We do however recognise the serious capacity constraints faced by many developing countries. We are therefore working closely with the World bank and UNCTAD to build a framework for supporting developing country efforts to carry out their own impact assessment work.

Iraq

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to reduce delays of convoys into Iraq at the Kuwait/Iraq border. [131140]

Mr. Rammell: I have been asked to reply.

There are two military and one civilian crossing points between Kuwait and Iraq. The former are managed by the Coalition in close co-ordination with the Kuwaiti authorities. The civilian crossing point is under Kuwaiti control.

The flow of traffic at the military crossing points is not currently subject to unacceptable delays. Nevertheless the US, in consultation with UK forces, is working with the Kuwaiti authorities on further expediting the flow of traffic across the border without compromising security.

There are longer delays at the civilian crossing point. Because of well-founded concerns over security and smuggling, the Kuwaiti authorities check carefully both people and goods crossing the border. The Coalition and the Kuwaitis are working on ways to reduce the resulting delays while maintaining security.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will support the opening of a women's resources centre in Basra. [132150]

Hilary Benn: Opportunities for providing support on women's issues in Basra will be identified once the member of staff responsible for gender issues is in place. Initiatives such as a women's centre will be considered alongside other priorities.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to deploy gender specialists to Iraq. [132152]

Hilary Benn: A member of staff responsible for gender issues is currently on a three-month deployment in Baghdad and a second specialist will shortly begin a six-month deployment in Basra.

Kyoto Protocol

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the extent to which his Department's support for fossil fuel investment is consistent with (i) the UK's obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and (ii) the Government's target to reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. from 1990 levels by 2050; and if he will make a statement. [132457]

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Hilary Benn: The UK government are committed to taking a lead in meeting obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, including reductions of carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, we recognise the rights of other sovereign states to fulfil their own legitimate development needs. In considering support for fossil fuel based investments, it is standard procedure for DFID to liaise with other relevant Government Departments to ensure balance and consistency between these objectives. In addition, our policy is to ensure that lending institutions take account of possible social and environmental impacts such as climate change as part of their policies and procedures in assessing fossil fuel projects, before providing loans or loan guarantees.

The UK Energy White Paper sets out four core objectives of UK Energy Policy: Tackling Climate Change, Energy Security, Cutting Fuel Poverty and Competitiveness. DFID is working closely with other Government Departments, notably FCO, DTI and DEFRA, to ensure a co-ordinated Whitehall approach to international energy issues.

Malawi

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance has been given to Malawi in the last six months. [132294]

Hilary Benn: In the first six months of this financial year, DFID spent a total of £14.2 million on development assistance to Malawi. Of this, £5.3 million was financial aid, which was administered directly by the Government of Malawi. Financial aid was disbursed in a number of key areas, notably on the Malawi Safety, Security and Access to Justice programme and the education and health sectors, where funds were used to build education and medical facilities as well as supplying drugs.

Multinational Enterprises

Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on instructing the UK directors of the (a) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and (b) International Finance Corporation to grant support for projects that have been the subject of an on-going complaint for breach of OECD guidelines on multinational enterprises. [132504]

Hilary Benn: UK policy is to assess proposed EBRD and IFC projects against the mandates, policies and procedures of those institutions. The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises ("the Guidelines") are recommendations addressed by adhering countries to multi-national enterprises ("MNE's"). They represent a framework of principles of good conduct for multi-national companies in their business activities, designed to help ensure that they act in harmony with the policies of the countries in which they operate and that they consider the views of other stakeholders. The Guidelines aim to promote and develop a sustainable approach to business conduct and to build an atmosphere of confidence and predictability between business, labour, governments and society as a whole. It is intended that companies use the Guidelines as a benchmark when developing their own codes of conduct. The Government take complaints under the guidelines very seriously and have an established mechanism for dealing

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with complaints through the National Contact Point in DTI. This mechanism applies equally to projects for which financing by a multilateral financial institution is being considered.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidance his Department has given to UK directors of the (a) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and (b) International Finance Corporation in relation to projects that are the subject of a complaint for a breach of OECD guidelines on multi-national enterprises; and if he will make a statement. [132459]

Hilary Benn: UK policy is to assess proposed EBRD and IFC projects against the mandates, policies and procedures of those institutions. The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises ("the Guidelines") are recommendations addressed by adhering countries to multi-national enterprises ("MNE's"). They represent a framework of principles of good conduct for multi-national companies in their business activities, designed to help ensure that they act in harmony with the policies of the countries in which they operate and that they consider the views of other stakeholders. The Guidelines aim to promote and develop a sustainable approach to business conduct and to build an atmosphere of confidence and predictability between business, labour, governments and society as a whole. It is intended that companies use the Guidelines as a benchmark when developing their own codes of conduct. The Government takes complaints under the guidelines very seriously and has an established mechanism for dealing with complaints through the National Contact Point in DTI. This mechanism applies equally to projects for which financing by a multilateral financial institution is being considered.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the role of the (a) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and (b) International Finance Corporation of the World Bank in granting support to projects that are subject to an outstanding complaint for a breach of OECD guidelines on multi-national enterprises. [133629]

Hilary Benn: UK policy is to assess proposed EBRD and IFC projects against the mandates, policies and procedures of those institutions. The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises ("the Guidelines") are recommendations addressed by adhering countries to multi-national enterprises ("MNE's"). They represent a framework of principles of good conduct for multi-national companies in their business activities, designed to help ensure that they act in harmony with the policies of the countries in which they operate and that they consider the views of other stakeholders (for example in respect of social and environmental issues). The Guidelines aim to promote and develop a sustainable approach to business conduct and to build an atmosphere of confidence and predictability between business, labour, governments and society as a whole. It is intended that companies use the Guidelines as a benchmark when developing their own codes of conduct. The Government takes complaints under the guidelines very seriously and has an established mechanism for dealing with complaints through the

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National Contact Point in DTI. This mechanism applies equally to projects for which financing by a multilateral financial institution is being considered.

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