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Burundi

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 929W, on Burundi, what assessment he has made of the levels of cholera in the Cibitoke region of Burundi since December 2003. [150103]

Hilary Benn: My previous answer was based on information available at that time from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Since then the WHO in Bujumbura has reported 127 cases of cholera, including four deaths in Cibitoke Province since 5 December 2003. The situation is now under control with only one case reported in the past week.

WHO has also reported that during the past two weeks there have been 35 reported cases of suspected cholera including one death in the province of Bururi. WHO are assessing the situation.

Congo

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if his Department will (a) arrange and (b) fund a delegation of senior former Members of Parliament to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to advise on democracy building. [149192]

Hilary Benn: We are in discussion with Members of the Congolese Parliament, groups outside Parliament and the Westminster Foundation here, about the best ways in which the UK can support the strengthening of democracy during the transition in the DRC. For example, we are just beginning an important project with the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa to help develop frameworks for political party development and the democratic functioning of the Parliament. We are also currently considering support to the constitutional process, and possible visits by Congolese politicians to other countries to focus on particular issues of interest. We will keep in view whether a visit by senior former Members of Parliament would be a priority activity for democratic development in the DRC during the short transitional period.

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the ability of the Democratic Republic of Congo to hold a general election in 2005; and if he will make a statement. [150109]

Hilary Benn: The Electoral Assistance Division of the UN Department of Political Affairs recently completed a feasibility study to assist the transitional Congolese authorities to identify a comprehensive set of options for organising and conducting elections in 2005. The objective is to ensure that the transitional government receives the support necessary to enable it to hold a successful general election at that stage. Experts from

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the European Commission are also advising the government on options, in consultation with the rest of the international community. DFID is participating in these discussions.

Iraq

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what amounts were spent by his Department on (a) reconstruction of civilian infrastructure and (b) humanitarian relief in the first 100 days following the end of high intensity military operations in Iraq. [150222]

Hilary Benn: In the first 100 days after military operations, DFID pledged £100 million to the United Nations Consolidated Appeal. Of this, £65 million was allocated to specific humanitarian programmes including £16 million to the reconstruction of civilian infrastructure. In the same period, DFID committed £32 million to the Red Cross and £6 million to NGOs for humanitarian relief.

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the money pledged by the UK Government at the Madrid Conference has been (a) allocated to reconstruction projects in Iraq and (b) remains uncommitted; and how much money his Department plans to spend in Iraq in each of the next five years. [151156]

Hilary Benn: To date, DFID has committed £220 million towards humanitarian and reconstruction work in Iraq, £188 million of which has been allocated to specific activities.

At the Madrid Conference in October, the UK made a total financial pledge towards Iraq's reconstruction of £544 million for the three years from April 2003. That figure included £38 million as our share of projected European Community spending in Iraq.

In the current financial year, DFID and other Government Department spending is expected to total £312 million, including £23 million as our share of EC spending. Future UK contributions to Iraq reconstruction are expected to be £134 million in 2004–05 and £98 million in 2005–06. Of these figures, the DFID programme for Iraq reconstruction is expected to account for £91 million and £86 million respectively. The balance is made up of the UK share of currently agreed European Community aid, and other UK Government programmes including the Global Conflict Prevention Pool which is jointly managed by DFID, the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

No decisions have yet been taken on spending on Iraq beyond 2005–06.

Nigeria

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the supplies of anti-retroviral drugs in Nigeria; and what steps he will take to assist in the event of a shortfall. [150113]

Hilary Benn: Supplies of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs in Nigeria are critically low. Most hospitals have run out of ARVs over the past months. This is due to delays in

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the release of Government funds, and because over 14,000 people were started on a treatment programme designed for 10,000.

In order to address the situation, President Obassanjo recently approved an extra £2 million for ARVs, and a supply contract is currently being awarded. It is expected that the Global Fund will provide £25 million worth of ARVs, and further supplies have been promised by the United States and the World Health Organisation.

However, ensuring reliable ARV treatment is not just a question of supply, it is also about strengthening the health system. The Nigerian Health Minister has developed an excellent strategy for reform of the health sector' which DFID plans to support. We are in addition providing £1 million to the National Action Committee on AIDS, which is coordinating the national response.

Preferential Access

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the European Commission proposal that the G20 be invited to give preferential access to products from the poorest countries. [146600]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.

All exports from least developed countries (LDCs), with the exception of arms, currently enjoy duty and quota free access to the European Union market under the Everything-but-Arms argument (EBA). Other G8 countries have similar but less extensive arrangements.

The Government fully supports the commitment by the World Trade Organisation, made in the Doha Declaration in November 2001, to seek an agreement with 'the objective of duty-free, quota-free market access for products originating from LDCs', and the further commitment 'to consider additional measures for progressive improvements in market access for LDCs'. We encourage all members of the World Trade Organisation to deliver on that commitment.

South Africa

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures are in place to provide the poorest families of South Africa with (a) water, (b) power and (c) health facilities. [150343]

Hilary Benn: Since the democratic elections in 1994, the South African Government has made extending services to the poor a priority. Their recent review of progress over the last 10 years concludes that much has been achieved while recognising that more remains to be done.

Since 1994, 8.4 million people have gained access to water, and the government has introduced a Free Basic Water policy under which poor households are entitled to 6,000 litres of water per month free of charge. 3.8 million households have been connected to the electricity grid and the Free Basic Electricity policy entitles poor households to 50 kilowatt hours of electricity per month free of charge. Free access to primary health care has been introduced and investment in health infrastructure has increased significantly.

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Sunset Clauses

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his policy on the use of sunset clauses in legislation; and which Acts containing such clauses relevant to his Department were passed in each year since 1997. [149333]

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development actively promotes the better regulation agenda and the use of sunsetting where appropriate. Two Acts of Parliament have been sponsored by DFID since 1997. They are the Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 1999 and the International Development Act 2002. Neither contained sunset clauses.

Zimbabwe

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on malaria levels in Zimbabwe. [150107]

Hilary Benn: In recent months, reported numbers of malaria cases and malaria deaths have been close to the seasonal average. However, the risk of a serious worsening of the malaria situation is increasing owing to incomplete coverage of routine prevention measures and inadequate stocks of antimalarial drugs as the rainy season progresses and the peak season for malaria approaches.

The ability of the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to control malaria is currently threatened by lack of staff and lack of access to foreign currency for purchase of insecticides and drugs. Zimbabwe is one of the countries that benefits from a grant of £17.3 million over six years provided by DFID to the Africa Regional Office of the World Health Organisation for the purpose of accelerating action to control malaria and childhood illness.

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