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Trade Liberalisation
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will assess the effect of full trade liberalisation by (a) all countries and
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(b) developed countries only on the distribution of welfare gains among (i) developed, (ii) non-least developed and (iii) least developed countries. [133416]
Hilary Benn: Estimates vary, but World Bank and IMF research shows that welfare gains from liberalising all trade range from US$250 billion to US$550 billion; one-third to two-fifths of these gains would accrue to developing countries. Because their economies are more highly protected, most studies find that developing countries gain more as a percentage of their GDP/GNP from liberalisation than industrial countries.
Low-income countries (a group that includes the least developed countries) gain most from industrial country liberalisation of agriculture, because of the greater relative importance of agriculture in their economies. In contrast, the larger and more advanced developing countries gain most from liberalisation in industrial goods because of the greater importance of manufacturing in their production and exports.
Uganda
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action he is taking to tackle the health problems in the Teso region of Uganda. [133764]
Hilary Benn: DFID provides support to Health services in Uganda primarily through general budget support. The Ministry of Health allocates its budget resources to districts based on relative poverty, burden of disease, and other exceptional factors. This approach has led to significant improvements in health service provision throughout Uganda. Recent insecurity in the Teso region resulted in an increased demand for health services and in response the Ministry sent additional health workers and medical supplies. In addition DFID has also channelled extra resources through its wider programmes with UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Uganda Red Cross Society to support those displaced by the conflict.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Colombia
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) purpose and (b) cost was of military and civilian assistance provided by the UK Government to Colombia in each of the last five years. [132681]
Mr. Rammell: Aid given via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is listed as follows. Total figures given in each year are funds allocated to projects within that year, although funding shown covered some projects in subsequent years.
1999: £1,545,000—on information services on sexual and reproductive health for internally displaced people; local initiatives for peace, strengthening NGOs in the rural sector.
2000: £621,163—on child abuse issues; witness and victim protection systems; strengthening prevention management of human rights violations; promotion of sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction; public
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service conflict resolution training; internally displaced people; strengthening indigenous community institutions; environmental work by indigenous population.
2001: £344,712—rehabilitation of former child soldiers; promotion of sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction; strengthening of fire service; humanitarian aid; human rights city campaign; child soldiers; biodiversity projects.
2002: £498,363—promotion of sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction; public service conflict resolution training; civil society study tour; education on parliamentary system; security sector reform; humanitarian action cooperation; protection of women's human rights; environmental conservation; biodiversity projects.
2003 to date: £664,703—human rights training for Colombian Armed Forces; promotion of sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction; community defenders for vulnerable communities; street children project; environmental projects.
During the past five years the FCO has also contributed over 3 million in counter-narcotics assistance to Colombia. We do not publicise details of such assistance to protect the safety of personnel involved and to avoid undermining its impact in future work in this area.
On aid via the Ministry of Defence, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mr. Ingram) gave on 16 October 2003, Official Report, columns 321–22W.
On aid via the Department for International Development I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for International Development (Clare Short) gave on 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 296W, and that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) gave on 26 June 2003, Official Report, column 940W.
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter to him, dated 11 September 2003, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. K. Qureshi. [133845]
Mr. Mullin: A reply was sent to my right hon. Friend on 10 October 2003. I regret that because of significantly increased workloads at UKvisas, the department responsible for the entry clearance operation overseas, this reply was not sent within the usual deadline of seven working days.
Draft European Constitution
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the provision under Article IX of the draft European constitution for member states to withdraw from the constitution if no agreement is negotiated within two years would necessarily result in total withdrawal from membership of the EU and obligations under the treaties. [134142]
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Mr. MacShane: Article I-59 of the draft EU Constitutional Treaty sets out the arrangements under which any member state so desiring could withdraw from the EU. Paragraph 3 states:
- "The Constitution shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, decides to extend this period."
EU Diplomacy
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what countries the UK relies on EU diplomatic representation; and what plans he has to rely on EU representation in two years' time. [134309]
Mr. MacShane: The United Kingdom's diplomatic representation overseas is carried out by British embassies, British High Commissions and British Consulates.
European Commission delegations currently represent the EU overseas in areas of Commission competence—external trade, European external assistance and some external aspects of Justice and Home Affairs.
The Inter Governmental Conference will consider proposals for Commission delegations to take on additional responsibilities to complement and work alongside national representations. No conclusions have yet been reached.
General Affairs Council
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs and External Relations Council held on 13 to 14 October; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [134576]
Mr. MacShane: The information requested is as follows.
Outcome of the 13 October General Affairs and External Relations Council
- My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary represented the UK at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Luxembourg on 13 October.
Conclusions on Wider Europe, Iraq, Iran, and Western Balkans were agreed by consensus.
Progress of work in other council configurations
- The Presidency gave a standard progress report on work in other Councils (Agriculture, Finance and JHA).
- This was a final discussion to confirm the annotated agenda for the European Council, the focus of which was on boosting growth. The agenda had already been agreed at the 29 September GAERC:
Relaunching the European economy
Strengthening the area of freedom, security and justice
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-
MEP Statutes
Discussion centred on a letter from the President of the European Parliament on privileges and immunities. It was agreed that the Council should reply saying it was willing to work jointly for a solution but the EP would need to show flexibility.
- Enlargement Commissioner Verheugen briefed on the progress on the Wider Europe/New Neighbourhood initiative endorsed by the Thessaloniki European Council in May 2003. Action Plans are to be developed for Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, and Israel. A package of proposals should be presented to the Council in spring next year.
- Partners discussed their concerns over developments in the region, in particular the security wall. The Presidency called for high level attendance at the forthcoming EU/Israel Association Council.
- Short Conclusions on the Iran nuclear situation were agreed without substantive discussion. Conclusions on Iran human rights were also agreed. These reaffirmed the Union's commitment to the human rights dialogue with Iran, the last round of which took place on 8–9 October 2003, as one of the means by which the EU can work to improve the human rights situation in the country. But Conclusions also stated that this dialogue was without prejudice to the possibility of promoting or co-sponsoring a Resolution at an UNGA session.
- The Council confirmed the indicative Commission pledge of 200m Euro for the 23–24 October Madrid Donors' Conference subject to budgetary process. Partners emphasised the importance of Madrid. The Commission indicated that this should not be seen as a standard donors' conference but more as an opportunity to agree on a multi-lateral framework for Iraqi reconstruction. The Presidency noted that aid and security improvements should be pushed forward in parallel.
- ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, made a presentation on co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal in Yugoslavia, based on 9 October statement made to the UN Security Council. She highlighted the connection between war criminals, organised crime, and support networks in the intelligence services, army, police and clerical institutions. Conclusions were also agreed on the launch of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.
- There was a brief discussion of relations with Russia in the context of the forthcoming EU-Russia summit. The Council also took note of Trade Commissioner Lamy's briefing on his discussions with Russia on their WTO accession. Commissioner Lamy said that he would be returning to Moscow on 15 October to try to move some of these issues forward. There was no substantive discussion.
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