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GM Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what GM crops are being grown in developing countries; and what the advantages over the comparable non-GM crops are of these crops, as cited in peer-reviewed research. [156804]

Hilary Benn: The bulk of GM crop production in developing countries is commercial. Of the six countries responsible for 99 per cent. of global crop production by area in 2003, four were developing countries: Argentina (21 per cent.), Brazil (4 per cent.), China (4 per cent.) and South Africa (1 per cent.). Almost all of Argentina's soybean production is now GM, while GM cotton now accounts for 58 per cent. of China's total cotton area ¹ . The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications publication "Global Status of Commercialized Transgenic Crops: 2003" provides more information.

A recently published report by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics contains a number of case studies detailing the actual and potential benefits of GM crops for developing countries. These are not necessarily related to yield increases but may, for example, involve reduced farmer inputs.

GM technology has the potential to provide commercial farmers in developing countries with new opportunities to increase the yield or quality of their crops. In particular, GM technology may enable farmers to protect their crops from environmental stresses and attacks from pathogens and insects.

GM technology also has the potential to improve the yield and quality of smallholder crops, where the emphasis is on increasing production without the need for increased inputs.

Decisions about the use of GM crops are, of course, a matter for developing country Governments to take.

¹ Source:

ISAAA, "Global Status of Commercialized Transgenic Crops: 2003"

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contracts have been placed by (a) the United States of America, (b) the United Kingdom and (c) other countries and institutions for the clearing of unexploded ordnance in Iraq; what the values of these contracts are; whom they are with; what the requirements are for which the contractors are being paid; whether sub-contracting to do the actual clearance work is provided for in the main contracts; what relationship is expected between the contractors and military forces stationed in the country, non-governmental organisations and Iraqis; and if he will make a statement. [157138]

Hilary Benn: DFID is supporting de-mining and the clearance of unexploded ordnance in Iraq both through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the UN.

DFID has signed contracts with the NGO Mines Advisory Group for work in northern Iraq (£781,639) and southern Iraq (£1,201,263). These contracts cover direct de-mining activities utilising a combination of expatriate staff and locally recruited de-miners.

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In addition, DFID has funded humanitarian mine action through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). The total provided to UNMAS is £4,357,358, including a grant of £357,358 for the purchase of plastic explosives for use in unexploded ordnance disposal. UNMAS has subcontracted the actual de-mining under these contracts to a number of international NGOs and commercial de-mining companies.

DFID expects the relationship between NGO contractors, commercial de-miners and the military to be one of close cooperation. On the military side, relevant engineer specialists of the British Battle Group have been particularly involved in this. We also encourage a focus on capacity building of Iraqi de-miners as much as possible.

Information on de-mining work funded by the US, including the establishment a 110-strong 'Iraqi Mine/UXO Clearance' NGO, can be found at www.cpa-iraq.org/pressreleases/20031213a mines.htm.

IT Companies (Working Conditions)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to encourage IT firms to ensure that all their sub-contractors in developing countries provided decent working conditions for their employees; and if he will make a statement. [157354]

Hilary Benn: The Government's commitment to supporting improvements in labour standards is firmly based on the International Labour Organisations' Declaration on the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the core labour standards that it incorporates. The Government calls on IT firms and other businesses sourcing goods from developing countries to follow the OECD Guidelines for National Enterprise, which set out principles for responsible business conduct including labour standards.

Effective and well-judged implementation of labour standards can play an important part in the reduction of global poverty by promoting broad based economic, social and political development. The Government supports initiatives that promote corporate social responsibility in ways that reduce poverty and support growth. The Department for International Development is providing practical support to the development of socially responsible business practice through the Ethical Trading Initiative. This is an alliance of business, trade unions and non-governmental organisations committed to improving working conditions in the supply chains of its corporate members. DFID helped to establish the ETI in 1998 and our current partnership is worth £1,300,000 over three years.

Middle East

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to assist economic development in the Middle East. [157756]

Hilary Benn: Promoting economic growth that benefits all people in a sustainable way is one of four objectives of our Regional Assistance Plan for the Middle East and North Africa. It is also a primary

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objective of our Interim Country Assistance Plan for Iraq. Copies of both papers have been placed in the Library of the House of Commons. We are working with the European Commission to help improve the effectiveness of their programmes in the region, for example by funding studies to help them strengthen trade links and private sector development. We strongly support European Investment Bank efforts to assist small and medium-sized enterprises, which are engines of growth in the region.

In Iraq, we are providing technical expertise in economic transition to the Coalition Provisional Authority, strengthening economic management capacity within Iraqi ministries, and supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. We also provide bilateral assistance to Yemen and Palestine, some of which has a specific focus on economic development. Most recently, we have been working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and HM Treasury to help develop plans for the G8 group of countries and the EC to further promote economic development in the region.

North Korea

Mr. Bercow : To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the scale of the movement of refugees from North Korea to China since 1995. [157545]

Hilary Benn: There is no accurate figure of the number of North Koreans in China because they tend to remain hidden for fear of discovery and repatriation to North Korea. Estimates vary greatly. The Ministry of Reunification in South Korea estimates that there are 10,000 long-term migrants in China. Some NGO groups estimate there are 300,000 North Koreans in China, based on surveys of villages in the border region.

The Chinese Government says that, by United Nations definitions, North Koreans who enter China illegally are economic migrants, not refugees. The UK regularly raises the question of North Korean border crossers at our biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his policy on development aid to North Korea. [157553]

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not give development assistance to North Korea; nor do we have any plans to start a bilateral programme there. DFID policy is to focus its human and financial resources on a manageable number of key country programmes where the UK has comparative advantage and expertise.

Since 1997, DFID has provided £3,298,000 in humanitarian assistance to North Korea. Most recently, DFID approved a grant of £1,023,000 to support UNICEF's work in 2004, in primary health care (including provision of essential medical supplies such as vaccinations) and improvements to the water and sanitation systems. In 2002–03 DFID provided £200,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross for its flood prevention work, and in 2001–02 the Federation also received £75,000 for emergency assistance to flood victims and £800,000 to support the

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health care system through the distribution of drugs and basic medical equipment. In the same year, DFID channelled £1,200,000 through the United Nations Children Fund to support its primary health care programme.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of energy supplies in North Korea; and what steps his Department is taking to improve them. [157554]

Hilary Benn: Insufficient energy supplies impact on the humanitarian crisis in North Korea. Power shortages prevent effective operation of water pumping stations, thereby reducing the overall supply of water. The diminishing supplies of fuel wood compounds this problem as families are unable to boil water before use, which in turn increases the prevalence of water borne diseases and diarrhoea and malnutrition worde. Fuel wood is also used for heating and cooking.

Nevertheless, energy is only one factor in the overall humanitarian crisis in North Korea, and the Department for International Development seeks to target its assistance in a way that will have the greatest impact. DFID is currently supporting the strengthening of water and sanitation, health care and disaster mitigation. This approach is in accordance with our assessment of the situation and follows discussions with the United Nations Resident Representative for North Korea.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much emergency (a) medical and (b) food aid was provided by the United Kingdom to North Korea in each of the last 10 years. [157555]

Hilary Benn: The financial figures available go back as far as 1996, when the United Kingdom gave £23,907 to Save the Children and the World Food Programme (WFP) for a nutrition assessment, £100,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the procurement and distribution of food for those still dependent on food aid following the 1995 flood, and another £100,000 for supplementary food for flood victims. The WFP also received £100,000 for supplementary food and project management costs for flood victims.

In 1997 we provided £80,000 to the IFRC for relief to provinces affected by floods following a tidal wave, and a further £495,000 for supplementary food needs for 139,000 beneficiaries.

In 1999 the Department for International Development (DFID) provided £131,459 to a pilot project run by CONCERN to increase food security and channelled £200,000 through World Vision to improve food security and promote sound agricultural practices, £120,000 through Save the Children to improve nutrition and early childhood development at national and village level, £158,437 through Oxfam to treat the public water supply in order to reduce the prevalence of water-born diseases and £625,000 to the United Nations Development Programme for its Geographic Information System and policy reform work including a micro-credit system.

In 2000, DFID provided £50,000 to the IFRC for emergency assistance to storm victims.

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In 2001–02 DFID provided £1,200,000 to support UNICEF's primary health care programme, as well as £75,000 to the IFRC for emergency assistance to flood victims and £800,000 for its programme to support the health care system through the distribution of drugs and basic medical equipment.

In 2002–03 The Department provided £200,000 to the IFRC for its flood prevention work and recently approved a grant of £1,023,000 to support UNICEF's work, in 2004, in primary health care, including improvements to the water and sanitation systems as well as essential medical supplies such as vaccinations.

It should be noted that the European Commission provided approximately £37.5 million in humanitarian assistance to North Korea since 1995, of which the UK has contribution is around £6.4 million.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of food supplies in North Korea; and what steps his Department is taking to improve them. [157557]

Hilary Benn: Owing to the environment of secrecy and restrictions on agencies operating there, it is difficult to be certain of figures regarding the situation in North Korea. A joint study between the Government and the United Nations Children's Fund showed that 42 per cent. suffer from chronic, or stunting malnutrition and 9 per cent. of the population suffer acute malnutrition (compared with 16 per cent. of children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that the North Korean food output falls short of need by 944 thousand tonnes.

While significant improvements in nutrition rates have been observed through food aid and improved harvests, the international response has been marked by breaks in supply that leave aid beneficiaries vulnerable. Following a recent delay, food distribution has restarted and all but 600,000 core beneficiaries will receive cereal rations up until June.

It is important to tackle the problem of malnutrition through a balanced approach to its causes. Both DFID and the European Commission Humanitarian Office, are concerned that food aid currently accounts for 90 to 95 per cent. of requested assistance, while poor water and sanitation increases the prevalence of water-born diseases and diarrhoea, which in turn worsens malnutrition. A significant proportion of the population of 22 million have poor quality water and sanitation and only 52 per cent. have access to safe drinking water.

DFID has recently agreed to provide £1.023 million in support of UNICEF's work in water, sanitation and primary health care (e.g. vaccinations and other essential medical supplies).

The European Commission is funding targeted food aid through the WFP and other organisations. In January it agreed to give 5 million Euros. The UK contributed £3,338,000 to this.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the

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Government of North Korea about its plans to install (a) broadband, (b) internet technology and (c) mobile phone networks. [157550]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: None.

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