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Pay Systems

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library the most recent review of (a) his Department's pay systems and (b) the departmental equal pay action plan. [181350]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: A review of DFID's pay systems for staff as follows the Senior Civil Service is currently under way. The current pay deal expires on 31 July 2004. The review takes the form of discussions between my officials and the Trade Union Side, and separately with the Treasury and Cabinet Office, and culminates in an offer to the Trade Unions. DFID is still discussing our position with all parties, although we hope to make an offer to the Trade Unions soon. There will be no formal review document.

DFID completed its equal pay audit of staff below the Senior Civil Service last year, and found no significant pay gaps. Discussions are under way with the Cabinet Office on a number of issues as part of the current pay review, including their potential impact on equal pay. Once these discussions have been concluded we will put a copy of our updated equal pay action plan in the Library.

Zambia

Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by how much Zambia's (a) GNP per capita and (b) human development index ranking has changed since 1990; what recommendations he has made to improve World Bank conditionality under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries programme; and if he will make a statement. [181975]

Hilary Benn: Zambia's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita fell by 11.9 per cent. between 1990 and 2002, an average decline of 1.1 per cent. per annum. The decline occurred in the period up to 1995 when real GDP per capita fell by 18.3 per cent., an average decline of 4.0 per cent. per annum. Since 1995 real GDP per capita has risen by 7.8 per cent., an average rise of 1.1 per cent. per annum, with positive per capita growth in every year except 1998.

Zambia's per capita GDP based on purchasing power parity, as commonly used for international comparisons, moved from US$780 in 1990 to US$710 in 1995 and US$840 in 2002. Zambia's ranking among 149 countries listed in the World Bank's database throughout this period fell from 134th position in 1990 to 141st in 1995 and 140th in 2002.

Zambia's Human Development Index score fell from 0.461 in 1990 to 0.386 in 2001. Zambia's ranking fell from 111th of 136 countries in 1990 to 163rd of 175 countries in 2001.

The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) in its objective of reaching Completion
 
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Point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. DFID works closely with the World Bank and other donors to ensure development assistance is aligned with GRZ's Poverty Reduction Strategy.

PRIME MINISTER

Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the letter from his Office dated 27 May, to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Ms R. Hilton, if he will obtain the reply from the Home Office promised in that letter. [182461]

The Prime Minister: My right hon. Friend, the Minister of State at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Hill) has replied to my hon. Friend today.

Empty Houses

Mr. Webb: To ask the Prime Minister for how many empty houses his Office is responsible; and if he will make a statement. [182239]

The Prime Minister: None.

Intelligence Personnel (Geneva Convention)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister whether intelligence personnel are required to (a) undertake training in and (b) demonstrate knowledge of the Geneva Convention before undertaking duties. [182334]

The Prime Minister: The Intelligence and Security Committee has made clear that they will be taking further evidence on these issues and the Government will co-operate fully with them.

Iraq

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister when and by whom he was first informed that the Coalition Provisional Authority would hand sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government on 28 June. [181961]

The Prime Minister: Bringing forward the handover of sovereignty to the Interim Iraqi Government had been under consideration for some time. The final decision was only taken when Iraqi Prime Minister lyad Allawi recommended that it was the right thing to do.

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to (a) the United Nations, (b) the United States of America and (c) the Government of Iraq about the merits of continuing to contribute 5 per cent. of Iraqi oil revenues as war reparation and compensation. [182103]

The Prime Minister: I have regular discussions with foreign Governments and members of the United Nations on a wide range of issues, including Iraq.

The contribution of 5 per cent. of Iraqi oil revenues to the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) Compensation Fund for war reparations and compensation was agreed through UN Security Council
 
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Resolution 1483 on 22 May 2003 and reaffirmed in UN Security Council Resolution 1546 on 8 June 2004, both of which were supported by the UK.

Under UN Security Council Resolution 1483, Iraqi payments to the UNCC Compensation Fund can only be changed by a decision of a sovereign Iraqi government and the UNCC Governing Council.

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what response he has made to the letter from the Anglican archbishops on prisoner abuse in Iraq. [182363]

The Prime Minister: I have replied to the letter today.

ISC Annual Report

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the Intelligence and Security Committee's (ISC) Annual Report 2003–04, paragraph 78, when he received the letter from the ISC; when he replied; and with whom he consulted before answering the letter. [182173]

The Prime Minister: I received the letter from the Intelligence and Security Committee on 14 May 2004 and replied on 24 May.

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Prime Minister (1) pursuant to the Intelligence and Security Committee's Annual Report 2003–04, paragraph 78, what follow-up action was taken concerning the complaints by detainees alleged in subsection b; and when it was undertaken; [182174]

(2) pursuant to the Intelligence and Security Committee's Annual Report 2003–04, paragraph 78, subsection c, whether the concerns reported to the US authorities by UK security staff were also reported to UK authorities; [182270]

(3) pursuant to the Intelligence and Security Committee's Annual Report 2003–04, paragraph 78, when security personnel were made aware that hooding was not acceptable. [182306]

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the single case in which United Kingdom intelligence personnel did not conduct an interview consistent with the principles laid down in the Geneva Convention, to which the Intelligence and Security Committee makes reference at paragraph 78, page 23 of its Annual Report, Cm 6240. [181963]

The Prime Minister: The Intelligence and Security Committee has made clear that they will be taking further evidence on these issues and the Government will cooperate fully with them.
 
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Lord Levy

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the activities Lord Levy has undertaken on his behalf since 1 January 2003, and if he will list the countries he has visited, and the dates those visits occurred. [182248]

The Prime Minister: In his capacity of Prime Minister's envoy, Lord Levy undertakes meetings to exchange views on the Middle East Peace Process and issues relating to Latin America and Kazakhstan.

Since 1 January 2003, Lord Levy undertook the following visits:

	Destination
2003
22–23 January	Occupied Territories
19–21 February	United States
1–2 September	Kazakhstan
9–19 September	Mexico, Panama, Peru and Venezuela
21–23 September	Israel and the Occupied Territories
1 December	Switzerland (Geneva)
4–9 December	United States
2004
19–21 April	Israel
14–16 May	United States
24–27 May	Israel
30–31 May	Jordan and Egypt
2–3 June	Israel and the Occupied Territories

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