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INTERNATIONAL DEVEOPMENT
Afghanistan
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to work with the governments of (a) Kazakhstan, (b) Turkmenistan, (c) Tajikistan and (d) Pakistan to stabilise wheat prices in Afghanistan; and what assessment he has made of the impact of wheat prices on stability within Afghanistan. [159503]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: We are working with the Afghan Government to assist them to build good relationships with all their neighbouring countries on a range of issues. To this end the Good Neighbourly Relations Declaration was signed in December 2002 between the Afghan Government and the six countries with which they share a common border. Discussions within this group encompass a range of issues, including trade.
Since the fall of the Taliban the cost of wheat in Afghanistan has fallen, partly due to aid agencies bringing in much needed food aid but also as a result of the break in the drought, which led to an 80 per cent., increase in the harvest. Discussions took place last year between my department, the Afghan Government and the aid agencies regarding the impact of wheat prices on the country. At that time it was noted that local purchase of wheat by aid agencies would increase its
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price and while this might have a positive impact for farmers it would also increase the market price for ordinary Afghans. The outcome of the discussions was a plan for WFP to procure 10,000 metric tons of wheat locally in 2004.
Bilateral Aid
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much bilateral aid the UK gave to (a) Armenia, (b) Azerbaijan and (c) Georgia in 2003. [160082]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK gave the following bilateral aid in 2003:
- (a) Armenia: £1,933,221
- (b) Azerbaijan: £182,730
- (c) Georgia: £2,092,989
Burundi
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures are being taken to reduce the use of child soldiers in Burundi. [159040]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK condemns unequivocally the use of child soldiers. We work closely with others in the international community including the UN to end the use of child soldiers. This includes support for a UNICEF programme to improve advocacy on the situation of children affected by armed conflict at all levels. The UK is also supporting a UN Security Council resolution on Children and Armed Conflict (currently under discussion) which calls on all parties to, inter alia, produce time-bound action plans to halt the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.
We are working actively within the international community to achieve a full peace settlement in Burundi and the implementation of a comprehensive disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme. We have committed US $25 million for the Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme for the Great Lakes Region. A national child soldier reintegration project has begun to implement activities and to date 400 child soldiers have been demobilised. Funds from this will be used in Burundi for a special project managed by UNICEF to demobilise child soldiers and reintegrate them into their home communities.
Commission for Africa
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what payment will be made to those who will sit on the Commission for Africa; and how this will be funded. [159380]
Hilary Benn: Commissioners will not receive payment for sitting on the Commission for Africa. Travel and subsistence costs incurred on Commission work will be reimbursed from the budget allocated to the Commission by the Department for International Development.
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Jamaica
Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid was given by the Government to Jamaica in each year since 1992, expressed in real terms. [159751]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: UK bilateral aid provided to Jamaica since 1992 is as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1992–93 | 6.395 |
| 1993–94 | 7.959 |
| 1994–95 | 4.213 |
| 1995–96 | 12.042 |
| 1996–97 | 11.215 |
| 1997–98 | 3.573 |
| 1998–99 | 11.130 |
| 1999–2000 | 9.710 |
| 2000–01 | 8.945 |
| 2001–02 | 9.263 |
| 2002–03 | 10.708 |
The UK also provided aid to Jamaica through the multilateral agencies over this period. The imputed multilateral share is as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 1.0 |
| 1993 | 0.3 |
| 1994 | 3.7 |
| 1995 | 4.1 |
| 1996 | 6.2 |
| 1997 | 7.6 |
| 1998 | 9.9 |
| 1999 | 0.0 |
| 2000 | 4.5 |
| 2001 | 5.1 |
Uzbekistan
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress Uzbekistan has made towards meeting the human rights goals set out by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. [159845]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is currently reviewing Uzbekistan's progress towards seven benchmarks for political and economic reform set out in the EBRD Strategy for Uzbekistan of March 2003. These include provisions in the area of human rights.
A mission of EBRD Directors recently visited Uzbekistan to review developments. They held discussions with the government, local and international NGOs, donors, local business and diplomatic community. The mission noted that some progress has been made on human rights, but much remains to be done. Detailed conclusions from the mission and the next steps for EBRD will be discussed by the full Board later this month.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Common Funding Formula
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Common Funding Formula will be introduced; what the reasons are for the delay in introducing it; and if he will make a statement. [157454]
Jane Kennedy: Following consultation with schools, which will be undertaken within the next few months, we aim to implement the Common Funding Formula in April 2005.
The decision to delay the implementation date for the introduction of new arrangements for funding schools was taken after very careful consideration of the issues and in particular the need to ensure that schools have sufficient opportunity to comment on the proposed outcomes. The consultation was due to commence in autumn 2003 but delays, including those related to the collation of verified data needed for this process, meant this would have provided very little time not only for schools to consider the details for this major change in schools funding but also for any issues arising to be fully considered.
The revised timetable offers the opportunity to take account of refinements needed as a result of the consultation process and of any changes which may be necessary in the future as a result of recommendations made by the Post-Primary Review Working Group and also the CCEA Review of the Curriculum.
Fencing
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether (a) Lottery money and (b) public funds have been used, directly or indirectly, to send fencers representing the Republic of Ireland to (i) competitions in (A) Italy and (B) Germany, (ii) world championships and (iii) training camps in Eastern Europe. [158318]
Angela Smith: Both (a) Lottery money and (b) public funds, have been used to fund fencers who have represented the Republic of Ireland in (i) competitions in (A) Italy and (B) Germany, (ii) world championships and (iii) training camps in Eastern Europe.
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding the sport of fencing has received in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [158319]
Angela Smith: The sport of fencing has received the following Exchequer funding:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 3,500 |
| 2000–01 | 3,500 |
| 2001–02 | 3,500 |
| 2002–03 | 7,525 |
| 2003–04 | 14,300 |
The sport of fencing has received the following Lottery funding:
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| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 18,000 |
| 2000–01 | 67,320 |
| 2001–02 | 9,720 |
| 2002–03 | 8,080 |
| 2003–04 | 14,240 |
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fencers are on the Talented Athlete Next Generation programme in Northern Ireland. [158320]
Angela Smith: There are five fencers on the Talented Athlete Next Generation Programme.
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fencers from Northern Ireland in receipt of United Kingdom Talented Athlete Funding have competed for a country other than the United Kingdom. [158321]
Angela Smith: There are no fencers in receipt of United Kingdom Talented Athlete funding that have competed for a country other than the United Kingdom.
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