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27 Apr 2004 : Column 948W—continued
Southern Africa
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the future food aid requirements in Southern Africa. [167824]
Hilary Benn: UN Crop and Food Supply Assessment teams arrive in Mozambique, Malawi, Swaziland and Zimbabwe this week to analyse the food supply situation with a view to establishing future food aid requirements in these countries in the coming year. A team will arrive in Lesotho in mid-May to undertake similar work. Final reports are expected in early June.
The Southern African Development Community's (SADC) Vulnerability Assessment Committees, supported by DFID, have already started fieldwork in these countries. Their results will also feed into the UN analyses. Linking these two assessments of food insecurity will provide a clearer picture of supply and demand for food in affected countries, and a more accurate assessment of household food shortages and the levels of food aid needed to respond to acute needs.
DFID is also working at both country and regional levels to address the longer-term causes of regional food insecurity in Southern Africa. These programmes take a developmental approach to food insecurity, and aim to improve information on vulnerability and response, coupled with measures that enhance poor people's access to food in the longer-term.
St. Helena
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of using the private finance initiative process to secure (a) air access for St. Helena and (b) safe docking facilities for ships calling at St. Helena. [168383]
Mr. Gareth Thomas:
The Government's position on maintaining access for St. Helena was set out in my Written Statement to the House on 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 1WS. As part of planned feasibility and other investigatory work, the possibility of a private finance initiative will be included among options that will be considered.
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The position regarding docking facilities for ships in St. Helena is different. At present, as the hon. Member will know from his own visit to the island last year, visiting ships anchor in Jamestown Bay and all passengers and cargo are transferred in smaller craft to and from the wharf. In recognition of St. Helena's continuing concern over these arrangements, we have agreed to support further investigatory work to review the options for improving them. The St. Helena Government is preparing terms of reference. We cannot yet speculate on whether a private finance initiative might or might not have a role in any solution that eventually may prove to be technically and financially acceptable.
Sudan
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the security and humanitarian situation in Sudan since the signing of the peace agreement; and if he will make a statement. [167814]
Hilary Benn: A Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Sudan, the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement was signed on 8 April. Humanitarian and Security Assessments in Darfur are being carried out at present by our UN and non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners. However, access is still limited in Darfur due to general insecurity and travel restrictions. It is therefore still too early to be able to give precise humanitarian indicators, as agencies have not yet been able to access large parts of the population. However the situation is clearly extremely serious.
In response to the crisis in Darfur DFID has committed about £9.5 million, through United Nations (UN) agencies and international NGOs. DFID has also provided four humanitarian affairs officers to assist the UN response for three months. Three of these are based in Darfur and will, among other things, undertake assessments of humanitarian needs.
Zimbabwe
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if he will make a statement on the latest humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe; [167818]
(2) what progress is being made to ensure that humanitarian aid in Zimbabwe goes to those in most need; [167822]
(3) if he will make a statement on levels of (a) cholera and (b) dysentery in Zimbabwe. [167823]
Hilary Benn:
Large numbers of Zimbabweans continue to be in humanitarian need. This is largely the result of the Government of Zimbabwe's misguided economic policies, including the poorly implemented fast track land programme, exacerbated by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and erratic rainfall. At least eight million Zimbabweans, over half the population, have been receiving donor-funded food aid in recent months, in advance of the imminent harvest, which should improve food security for the majority of Zimbabweans.
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The crop forecast is not yet finalised, but the harvest may cover less than half of the country's food needs over the next 12 months. The Government of Zimbabwe has stated its intention to import grain to meet the national food deficit. Given, the Government's economic difficulties, this may be unrealistic. In the meantime, the Government say that they will not decide for some months whether to ask for further international food aid after June. Households most likely to be in need of assistance, either food or other resources, will be those with no access to land or income that are also affected by HIV/AIDS or include orphans, disabled children and the elderly.
DFID Zimbabwe provides financial support to the UN system for rigorous monitoring and evaluation of donor-funded humanitarian programmes, including both the effective targeting of those in the most need, and ensuring that there is no political interference in the process. Monitoring and evaluation reports are regularly provided to donors and discussed at meetings with the United Nations, non-governmental organisations, civil society and other donors. DFID remains confident that the humanitarian relief provided by the UK reaches those members of society who are most in need of assistance.
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health, there have been 77 cases of cholera and 9,860 cases of dysentery since January. However, the number could be much higher due to the decline in surveillance. Many cases are not reported as people cannot afford to go to hospitals or hospitals are failing to report reasons for death.
DFID has provided funds to Save the Children UK to respond to cholera outbreaks. The aim is to ensure that the disease does not spread further and that the communities at risk are assisted with soap and other hygiene items, as well as water purification tablets and oral dehydration supplies to treat diarrhoea.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Child Support Agency
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money due to clients of the Child Support Agency is held by the Agency owing to computer errors; and how much money has been held in each of the last six months in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Angus constituency. [168654]
Mr. Pond [holding answer 26 April 2004]: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 27 April 2004:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked, how much money due to clients of the Child Support Agency is held by the Agency owing to computer errors; and how much money has been held in each of the last six months in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Angus constituency.
I do not have the information that you seek. I can say that at 31 March 2004 we were holding a total of £368,341 representing monies received from the non-resident parent that had not yet been paid out to the parent with care. Some will reflect computer errors but a significant element will represent payments received that are awaiting clearance by our bankers.
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much compensation has been paid to clients of the Child Support Agency owing to delays caused by computer errors in each of the last 12 months in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Angus constituency. [168655]
Mr. Pond [holding answer 26 April 2004]: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 27 April 2004:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked, how much compensation has been paid to clients of the Child Support Agency owing to delays caused by computer errors in each of the last 12 months in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Angus constituency.
I do not have the information you seek. I can say that in the year to 31 March 2004 a total of around £2 million was paid to clients of the Agency by way of financial redress for maladministration. This will include maladministration resulting from computer errors outside our direct control.
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