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Unemployment Benefits

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what range of benefits is available for those unable to find a job; under what circumstances are these benefits withdrawn; and what compulsory tasks the unemployed are asked to do in searching and applying for jobs. [132947]

Mr. Browne: The main benefit available to people seeking work is Jobseeker's Allowance. They may also

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be able to receive Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Disability benefits depending on their particular circumstances. Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits can be claimed by all families with children.

In order to receive Jobseeker's Allowance a person must be available for and actively seeking work. When they make a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance they agree the steps they will take to actively seek work. This is recorded on their Jobseeker's Agreement and reviewed on a regular basis. Jobseekers may also have to comply with a Jobseeker's Direction issued by their Adviser. This could be, for example, apply for a specific job vacancy or to attend a training course. Failure to comply with these requests without good cause could lead to a benefit sanction.

Before a sanction is applied an independent Decision Maker will consider statements from the jobseeker and their Personal Adviser, together with the Jobseeker's Agreement and any other evidence supplied by the jobseeker. If benefit is disallowed the jobseeker is advised of their right to have the decision reconsidered or to appeal.

Details of the steps that Jobseeker's are required to take are set out in Volume 4, Chapter 21, Paragraphs 21826 to 21828 of the Decision Makers Guide a copy of which is available in the Library.

Winter Fuel Payment

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate how many people who became newly entitled for the 2003–04 winter fuel payment and who needed to make a claim before 19 September in order to receive their payment before Christmas failed to do so; and what the value was of such payments. [134107]

Malcolm Wicks: We estimate that for winter 2003–04, there could be around 600,000 people newly entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment. Around half of these will need to claim because they will not be in receipt of a relevant benefit which qualifies them for an automatic payment.

By 19 September 2003, around 170,000 claim forms had been received and processed for payment, although some of these may have been from people entitled to an automatic payment. However, since then a further 24,000 claims were received and processed for payment.

We are unable to provide any reliable estimate of the value of unclaimed winter fuel payments because some people aged 60 or over are excluded, others choose not to claim and payments are based on household composition.

Where a person needs to claim, it is up to them whether they do so, and we publicise the availability of these payments. They have until 30 March 2004 to make their claim for this winter.

Workplace Diseases

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to limit liability in employers' liability cases involving workplace diseases to the date of the publication in medical journals of research showing clear links between workplace practices and diseases. [136172]

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Mr. Browne: We do not have any plans to introduce such a system.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the United Kingdom has contributed to Afghanistan in each year since 2000; and what percentage of these amounts has gone towards (a) reconstruction, (b) military purposes and (c) emergency aid in each year. [133853]

Hilary Benn: Since 2000 the UK has provided 687 million to Afghanistan. Distinctions between reconstruction or development assistance, and emergency or humanitarian assistance are problematic, especially in situations like Afghanistan after the initial emergency in 2001 was over. For example, assistance managed by our Humanitarian Affairs department to support re-opening of schools or the immunisation of children, clearly has an immediate effect as well as contributing to longer-term development.

In the financial year 2000–2001 £5 million was spent on humanitarian assistance. There was no spend for military or reconstruction work.

In financial year 2001–2002 out of £265 million provided by the UK, £45 million (17 per cent.) was spent on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. Most of this went to humanitarian needs because our reconstruction effort was just beginning. £220 million (83 per cent.) was spent on military operations.

In financial year 2002–2003 the UK contributed a total of £396 million. £86 million (21 per cent.) was spent on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. This was shared roughly equally between humanitarian assistance and reconstruction. £310 million (79 per cent.) towards supporting military operations in Afghanistan.

In the current financial year the UK, to date, have provided £26 million for humanitarian assistance and reconstruction. The great majority of these funds have focused on reconstruction. This years figures for expenditure in support of military operations in Afghanistan will be published in the Winter Supplementary Estimates.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance is being provided to train Afghan women as (a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) other medical professionals; in what parts of Afghanistan such assistance is being provided; what resources have been committed in support of such training; and over what time period. [134570]

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development has provided some technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in Afghanistan but is not directly involved in the training of medical professionals.

The Afghanistan Ministry of Health has estimated a budget of $173 million to implement several national health programmes this year. More than $130 million has been already committed by donors, including the European Community, to which DFID contributes 19 per cent., for these programmes. Most of these

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programmes are nationwide. These programmes incorporate training components including the training of women. However, a breakdown showing training and resources targeted specifically at women is not currently available.

AIDS, TB and Malaria

Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. [134716]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK has a long-term financial commitment to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria which will provide the fund with a total contribution of $280 million by 2008. It is too early to judge the effectiveness of the fund in combating these key diseases of poverty. We are working closely with the fund to ensure it has effective working procedures so that it can meet its overall goals.

We have therefore made it clear that UK funding will be subject to the GFATM reflecting a clear poverty focus, achieving a better financing system, integrating the fund's activities more effectively with national programmes and meeting agreed benchmarks to monitor its effectiveness. I am pleased to report that good progress was made at the recent sixth board meeting in Thailand on many of these issues.

Angola

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the impact of delays in the shipment of food aid to Angola on the humanitarian situation in the country. [135204]

Hilary Benn: The principal provider of food aid in Angola is the World Food Programme. WFP's current programme began in July 2002 and is due to end in December this year. It is 90 per cent. funded. The operation has both emergency relief and recovery, or rehabilitation, elements.

We understand that due to delayed international maize shipments, the World Food Programme (WFP) is expecting shortfalls in cereals during November and December. The World Food Programme will continue to give priority to the sick and malnourished under social and nutritional programmes and these vulnerable groups will continue to receive full rations. This will minimise the negative humanitarian effects of the disruption of deliveries. However, there will be reduced availability of food aid for rehabilitation and recovery programmes.

At the end of 2002 DFID contributed £2 million to WFP in food aid in Angola, in response to their appeal for assistance with the food pipeline. We continue to closely monitor the humanitarian situation in Angola and will respond to urgent humanitarian needs.

Botswana

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the (a) aim, (b) structure and (c) methods of the European Union projects in Botswana to which his

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Department makes a financial contribution with particular reference to the effect their implementation (i) has and (ii) has had on the Gana and Gwi; and if he will make a statement. [134455]

Hilary Benn: Along with other EU member states DFID contributes to the European Development Fund (EDF), which supports projects in Botswana on the basis of a strategy agreed between the EU and the Government of Botswana. The strategy for the period 2001–07 highlights the challenges of poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS, and commits the EU to focus its programme mainly on human resource development. The strategy recognises that poverty is especially prevalent among those living in the remotest parts of Botswana and among ethnic minorities, but does not contain specific objectives for the impact of the EU programme on particular ethnic groups.

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