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Eritrea

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Eritrea. [137831]

Hilary Benn: The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Eritrea has said that the situation has improved slightly but there is still major cause for concern. While the harvest is expected to be better than in 2002 it will be well below its full potential. We will continue to play our part in helping address urgent humanitarian needs, and have recently committed £500,000 to the UNICEF Appeal.

Ethiopia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to help the Government of Ethiopia avoid future food shortages. [137830]

Hilary Benn: Our Country Assistance Plan for Ethiopia, which was published in March, outlines the various methods that we are using to take forward our longer-term food strategy. We work in support of the Government's own efforts to reduce food insecurity in the framework of Ethiopia's poverty reduction strategy, the Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme.

We are working at federal and regional level in Ethiopia on key food security issues. The Ethiopian Government have themselves developed an Action Plan to address the issue of food insecurity, which we expect to be discussed at a meeting of donors and government in December.

Gambia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made in tackling malaria among children in the Gambia. [137833]

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Hilary Benn: Malaria is endemic in The Gambia. It is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality especially among children under the age of five and pregnant women. It has a significant negative impact on productivity and is a major cause of poverty. Recent studies in The Gambia have shown that malaria is on the increase. In 2000, it accounted for 60 per cent. of all out patient consultations and 57.2 per cent. of all admissions and 36.9 per cent. of all deaths, including 25 per cent. of all deaths in children under five years of age ¹ .

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), to which DFID contributes, has recently agreed to provide US$13.8 million over five years for the prevention and treatment of malaria in The Gambia, The goal of this project, which is particularly focused on the coastal area, is the reduction of malaria morbidity and mortality in children under five years of age and pregnant women by 30 per cent. by the end of the project in the focus area.

¹ Figures from the Gambia Malaria Situation Analysis 2001.

Global Fund

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government is taking to ensure that there are sufficient funds in the Global Fund to meet the £5 billion target for 2005. [137456]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK has a long-term commitment to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). We recognise that in order to be effective the GFATM needs predictable and sustainable financing—which is why the UK recently extended its pledge by a further two years to 2008 bringing our total contribution to US$280million.

In addition, the Prime Minister has encouraged European Union member states to contribute to the GFATM. Last month the EC agreed to accelerate the disbursement of Euros 170 million to the Fund. Currently the 15 EU member states and the Commission are the largest donor to the GFATM, having contributed around 55 per cent. of the total pledge so far of US$4.8 billion.

The Global Fund is one of a number of instruments to tackle these terrible diseases. Since 1997, the Department for International Development has stepped up its spending on HIV/AIDS from £38 million in 1997–98 to more than £270 million in 2002–03. According to UNAIDS, UK is currently the 2nd largest bilateral donor active in the field of HIV/AIDS.

Since May 1997 DFID has committed over £1.5 billion to support the development of health systems in partner countries. This will help to build capacity to deliver medicines to the poor and assist them in making effective choices about the selection of drugs.

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria is financially secure. [137457]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK was a high profile advocate for the Global Fund for AIDS TB and Malaria (GFATM) and nearly two years after its inception continues to give it its full support.

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The UK recognises that the GFATM needs predictable sustainable financing in order to be effective and therefore made a commitment to predictable multi year funding from the very start—increasing our pledge recently to $280 million through to 2008.

The UK, a Board member of the GFATM, works closely with the Fund particularly on improving its financial effectiveness. Decisions taken at the 6th Board Meeting last month—including moving the Fund to a voluntary replenishment system, and to continue to develop financial models that provide regular estimates of resources available for commitment and of demand, will help to give greater clarity on what resources are assured and will provide the GFATM with a sounder financial footing.

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 5 November, reference 135853, how many of the unexploded bomblets remaining as a result of the cluster bombs and artillery used in the UK area of operations around Basra have been found within the city limits of Basra. [137640]

Hilary Benn: The information requested is not available.

Liberia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response he will make to the UN humanitarian appeal in Liberia. [138683]

Hilary Benn: In response to the humanitarian crisis there we have allocated £7.6 million this year to support humanitarian assistance in Liberia. The UN consolidated appeal will be announced on 19 November. We will consider whether to make a further contribution in the light of the appeal and the conclusions of a joint DFID/FCO mission that is visiting Liberia this month.

Performance Monitoring

Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002–03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. [137947]

Hilary Benn: Performance targets for DFID were agreed as part of Spending Review 2002. The monitoring and measurement of PSA targets forms part of departmental performance management. Performance management is an integral part of the day to day running of the Department, and as such it is not possible to separate out the specific costs. The monitoring of progress towards, and performance against, the Department's PSA targets is undertaken by a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation.

Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are

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required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. [137963]

Hilary Benn: Key performance targets for DFID are agreed as part of the Spending Review and the latest set were published in Spending Review 2002; Public Service Agreements 2003–06 (Cm 5571). The department monitors progress towards the targets along with HM Treasury and progress is reported regularly.

DFID does not have agencies or non-departmental public bodies required to meet targets.

DFID has five targets in its Public Service Agreement 2003–06. Two are based on achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the key regions in Africa and Asia. These are also linked to the poverty reduction targets of our partner countries. Two are focused on improving the effectiveness of the international system in reducing poverty. These include targets which have been agreed jointly with other Government Departments. The final target encompasses the Value for Money indicators which cover the efficient allocation of funds.

I am accountable for delivery of DFID's Public Service Agreement. The means of measuring achievement against these targets are set out in the Technical Note accompanying DFID's PSA. This note is available on the DFID website at: www.dfid.gov.uk.

St. Helena

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance he intends to give to St. Helena before the building of the proposed airport to discourage residents from leaving the island; and if he will make a statement on the future viability of the economy of St. Helena. [137690]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: We continue to provide substantial assistance for St. Helena, which this year is expected to be more than £10.5 million. Much of this support is needed to maintain essential government services, including education and healthcare, and to subsidise the island's vital passenger/supply ship. These and other services will be maintained: but we hope increasingly to devote a greater share of our assistance to activities that will generate more local revenue and reduce St. Helena's reliance upon our aid.

For example, in parallel with evaluating options for the possible development of air access and with the St. Helena Government we are reviewing the routing and scheduling of the RMS 'St Helena' to see if a better call pattern for the island can be established. We also are considering further strengthening of the St. Helena Development Agency (SHDA), in addition to some existing support through the SHDA from the FCO's Economic Diversification Fund, to help stimulate private sector growth. As regards staffing, some key posts in St. Helena have been advertised recently on enhanced terms that are designed to encourage key personnel to remain and/or to attract back suitable people with St. Helenian status who are living overseas. I understand that the first of these advertisements already has resulted in the appointment of a

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St. Helenian who currently lives in the UK; and the initial response to advertisements for two other posts last month has been encouraging.

We remain committed to supporting the St. Helena Government's efforts to revitalise and regenerate the island economy to the benefit of its community. Our shared goal, which may take some years to achieve, is sustainable economic and financial self-sufficiency for St. Helena.

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the quality of treatment at Jamestown General Hospital, St. Helena. [137225]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Healthcare services in St. Helena, including those available at Jamestown Hospital, are reviewed regularly. We are satisfied that both their quality and consistency are appropriate and proportionate to the needs of the island community. For example, the hospital incorporates: a modern operating theatre and maternity suite; a well equipped medical laboratory and blood transfusion services, and complete continuity of attendance by trained medical and nursing staff. The next review of our healthcare support is planned for early next year.

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