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Drinking Water

12. Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the steps being taken by the Government towards meeting target 10 of the UN Millennium Development Goals on the supply of potable water. [137794]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Government are committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goal targets on water and sanitation. These include halving, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and the adoption of national policies and strategies for integrated water resources management in all developing countries by 2005. In 1999–2001 the UK was the fourth largest donor in the water sector, behind Japan, the United States and Germany.

Our strategy is described in 'Addressing the Water Crisis—Healthier and More Productive Lives for Poor People', which was launched in March 2001. It stresses the importance of the improved management of water resources to benefit the lives of the world's poor. A copy has been deposited in the Library. Our development assistance is provided in response to our partner countries' needs as driven by their Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). We are working actively with their governments to support production of PRSPs and to ensure that water and sanitation issues are adequately represented.

Iraq

13. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's aid programme in Iraq, with particular reference to the protection and safety of aid workers. [137795]

Hilary Benn: DFID has committed £209 million towards humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq. About £151 million of this funding is being channelled through the United Nations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and non-governmental

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organisations. At the Madrid Donors' Conference on Iraq, on 23 to 24 October, the Government announced that the UK would commit a further £296 million towards reconstruction in Iraq up to March 2006, including £29 million as our share of planned European Community spending.

In the current security circumstances in Iraq, the safety of aid workers is of particular concern. In view of recent attacks on their offices, it is fully understandable that the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations should review their security procedures and ways of working, even if that means temporarily reducing their presence in the country. DFID has offered £3 million towards UN security measures in response to an appeal following the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad in August. DFID has also offered additional finance, if needed, for increased security provisions for those NGOs that we are supporting in Iraq. DFID, and other Government Departments, have put in place special security provisions for their own staff working in Iraq.

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he estimates there is adequate clean water for the rations of infant formula being delivered in Iraq; and what measures are being taken to encourage breast feeding. [136986]

Hilary Benn: 50 per cent. of Iraqis now have access to piped water and the Ministry of Public Works plan to increase this to 70 per cent. by December 2004. In addition, water tankering by UNICEF provides 14.6 million litres of water to deprived areas of Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, and Kirkuk, benefiting over 825,000 people.

UNICEF promotes breast feeding among its activities for child development, and assists malnourished children in therapeutic feeding centres. Despite the security situation, they are still implementing a number of programmes including health education and breastfeeding promotion.

Palestine

14. Mr. Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK aid to the occupied Palestinian territories. [137796]

Hilary Benn: Working closely with other donors, and maintaining flexibility, are key ways in which we seek to maintain effectiveness in the current volatile political, social and economic environment. Lately the international development effort has moved towards shorter-term support for the immediate needs of the Palestinian people. According to World Bank analysis, direct budget support has proved to be the most effective aid instrument in the current circumstances, allowing the Palestinian Authority to maintain basic service delivery, while providing significant macro-economic benefits. The welfare impact of this support has been significant: as poverty and unemployment levels have risen, the extended coverage of public sector salaries has provided an essential safety net for many families and communities. Our support for service delivery through

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UNRWA and NGOs has also been important in mitigating the effects of the worsening humanitarian situation.

There are, however, limits to what development assistance can achieve. Poverty reduction can only be addressed significantly in the context of a just peace settlement and the creation of a viable Palestinian state, What is most needed to reduce poverty is relaxation of Israeli curfews, closures and checkpoints, and eventual withdrawal, so the economy can grow again.

Aceh

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the impact the imposition of martial law in Aceh on 15 May has had on the work of aid workers; what representations he has made to the head of the Aceh Martial Law Administration, and when; and if he will make a statement. [137518]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The imposition of martial law in Aceh on 15 May, and the subsequent increased restrictions on access for non-Indonesians, have severely impacted on the ability of aid workers to operate in Aceh. No international NGOs are currently working in Aceh, and the UN has only a very limited presence in the province. However most aid organisations have found ways of working through local partners.

The UK, through the Tokyo Group of donors in Jakarta (the United States, Japan, European Union and the World Bank), are encouraging a return to negotiations and a peaceful solution to the conflict in Aceh. The recent Tokyo Group statement calls for improved access for international agencies, NGOs and for the impact on the people of Aceh to be minimized. In addition to this, the British Ambassador to Indonesia wrote to the Indonesian Government in August 2003 requesting that NGOs be granted permission to return to Aceh, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, stressed to President Megawati in June 2003 that Indonesian military action in Aceh should be proportionate and in accordance with international standards on human rights. We have not approached the head of the Aceh Martial Law Administration as our concerns about the situation in Aceh are raised through the Indonesian Central Government.

Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the proposed oil pipeline from Baku to Ceyhan. [137520]

Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement made on 5 November, which sets out DFID's position on funding by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.

On 11 November the Executive Board of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) also approved non-concessional funding for the pipeline. DFID took the same position on funding for the BTC project by EBRD as we did by IFC.

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Bechtel

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [138062]

Hilary Benn: There have been no contracts issued by DFID.

Control Risk Group

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the purpose of the contract awarded to Control Risk Group for an armed protection team. [137741]

Hilary Benn: The contract to Control Risks Group is to provide security support services for DFID staff working in Iraq.

Croatia

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the results were of the £315,756 contract awarded to P-E International PCL to offer support to Ministry of European integration in Croatia; and if he will make a statement on its priority within his Department's budget. [137743]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: It is too early to assess the results of the £315,756 contract awarded to PE International PCL. However, the Croatian Government has indicated the importance it attaches to this support. The project commenced in February 2003 and is due to be completed in February 2004. DFID's support is assisting the Croatian Ministry of European Integration to plan and manage the process of European Integration. The assistance is a key component of DFID's bilateral programme to Croatia, supporting national and European Union objectives. Public administration reform will continue to be a priority for the DFID's work in Croatia.

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