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Southern African Development Community

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 13 October, reference 131644, how much of the

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£7.65 million committed to the Southern African Development Community's work on HIV/AIDS has already been provided; what the per annum break-up for the provisioning of the committed amount is; when the commitment amount was last reviewed; when a new commitment will be made; and if he will make a statement. [132909]

Hilary Benn: Of the £7.65 million committed to SADC, £2.79 million has already been provided. The indicative per annum budget breakdown in the Programme Memorandum was as follows—year 1, £1.09 million; year 2, £1.295 million; year 3, £2.045 million; year 4, £2.065 million and year 5, £1.155 million. But actual disbursement is flexible, based on the needs of the programme.

The commitment amount was last reviewed in late 2002 and will be considered again during a review of the programme in the first half of 2004. As the current commitment runs until 2006, no further commitment to this particular programme is planned at this time.

Sudan

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the recent peace talks in Sudan. [133560]

Hilary Benn: We are optimistic about the prospects for peace. There is a good chance of agreement this year. There are outstanding problems which need to be resolved, on power and wealth sharing, the three conflict areas (of Southern Blue Nile, the Nuba Mountains and Abyei) and ceasefire and security issues. But discussion of these issues has now begun. On 25 September, the parties signed a Framework Agreement on Security Arrangements during the Interim Period. We will continue to offer the parties and mediators our full support and advice and remain actively involved in helping them reach a comprehensive peace agreement. Sudan will remain a priority for our diplomacy.

We have committed to over £220 million (including UK's share of EC food aid) to Sudan since 1991, predominantly for humanitarian purposes. Since the start of the peace process, we have broadened our assistance to Sudan to include direct support for this process and for rehabilitation work where possible. Funds for Sudan in 2002–03 total £20 million, including £5 million from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool.

With others in the international community, we are now planning for recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction when there is peace. We are considering what support we can provide in Sudan immediately following a peace agreement, to ensure that the Sudanese people see early benefits of peace. We are also considering how we might support Sudan in the longer term. For example, re-integration of displaced persons, refugees, and armed forces; support for improvements to governance in Sudan; and relief of Sudan's huge debt arrears.

We recognise that a sustained international effort will be needed to help Sudan after a peace agreement and remain determined to play a full part in it.

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Tanzania

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of food shortages in (a) Tanzania and (b) the Singida region. [133556]

Hilary Benn: The Government of Tanzania carried out an initial crop assessment in May followed by further assessment in July. DFID has accepted the findings of the latter which identified 1.9 million people in 16 areas, including 135,000 in Singida region, as being particularly vulnerable to food shortage following the failure of the June harvest. DFID continues to await the formal appeal for assistance being coordinated by the WFP on behalf of the Government of Tanzania.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department has given and is giving to meet the food shortages in (a) Tanzania and (b) the Singida region. [133557]

Hilary Benn: During the current year DFID has made £60 million available through direct budget support to the Government of Tanzania to support its Poverty Reduction Strategy, which includes provision for food security. In response to recent shortages, the Government of Tanzania has begun to distribute food from its strategic grain reserve in 16 areas (including Singida) identified as being particularly vulnerable. DFID continues to await the formal appeal for assistance being coordinated by the WFP on behalf of the Government of Tanzania.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Disability Bill

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to publish the Disability Bill. [133083]

Maria Eagle: We will publish a draft Disability Bill later this year with the intention that it will undergo pre-legislative scrutiny. The draft Bill would amend the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to make fundamental improvements to disabled people's rights in areas like the public sector, premises, transport, private clubs and the definition of disability.

This is the next step toward meeting our 2001 Manifesto commitment to extend basic rights and opportunities for disabled people. It builds on other legislation we have already introduced, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003, which were approved by Parliament on 1 July. Those regulations make significant and far-reaching changes to the DDA which will, among other things, bring within scope of its employment provisions a further 1 million small employers, 7 million jobs and 600,000 disabled people already working in those jobs. The final step toward meeting our Manifesto commitment will be when a Disability Bill is passed in this Parliament.

By the end of this Parliament, we will have taken forward the most significant package of changes to civil rights for disabled people ever seen.

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Housing Benefit

Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to ensure that people with learning disabilities are not deprived of housing benefit as a result of their accommodation being registered under the Care Standards Act 2000. [133166]

Mr. Pond [holding answer 20 October 2003]: Housing benefit is generally withdrawn when accommodation becomes registered under the Care Standards Act 2000. The Department of Health is responsible for providing appropriate funding, through local authority social services, for places in accommodation registered under the Act.

However entitlement to Housing Benefit may be retained in certain cases where the accommodation would not have been required to be registered under the previous Registered Homes Act 1984.

Middlesbrough Pathfinder Project

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in relation to the Middlesbrough Pathfinder Project; and if he will make a statement. [133707]

Mr. Pond: As a result of their commitment to restructure the regional housing market through the Tees Valley Market Renewal Project, Middlesbrough Council have reconsidered their decision to take part in testing the Local Housing Allowance.

They recognise the benefits of the Local Housing Allowance and would have continued their involvement had it not been for this commitment. We are disappointed with this outcome, given the amount of work that has been put in by both the council and ourselves, but we respect what was a difficult decision for Middlesbrough and the reasons behind it. Their withdrawal in no way alters our commitment to proceed with the remaining nine Pathfinders.

Pensions

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what powers his Department has to reclaim duplicate payments of retirement pension paid because of official error. [133565]

Malcolm Wicks: Social Security legislation does not provide for recovery of such duplicate overpayments arising as a result of official error. Although these duplicate payments are not recoverable under Social Security legislation, repayment can be sought under common law in exceptional circumstances.

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many cases order books including payment of pension credit have been issued where the previous order book for retirement pension had not been cancelled; what the value of duplicate payments was in such cases; how many such duplicate payments have been made to those receiving direct payments into an account and of what value; and if he will make a statement. [133566]

Malcolm Wicks: We are aware that a number of duplicate order books were issued in the South West Region in June 2003. Although it is not possible to say

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precisely how many cases were involved, corrective action was taken to prevent any further cases and we are satisfied that the number was small. Payment arrangements have been corrected where cases have been identified. Pension Credit has been payable only from 6 October and information on duplicate payments is not yet available.

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