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Ministerial Air Travel

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since the Office's creation the number of miles flown by each Minister on official departmental business. [181867]

Mrs. McGuire: The information requested is not recorded separately and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

However, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for 2003–04 is currently being assembled and will be published shortly. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

South-east Asia

7. Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what help he plans to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy or childbirth in south-east Asia. [183724]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Maternal mortality is a major health issue in south-east Asia and a key priority for DFID. We are for example working in Indonesia with UNICEF to expand their maternal health programme. In Cambodia we are working with the Government, the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank to develop a programme of support to the health sector, a key aspect of which is to address maternal health issues.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

8. Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the recently published sexual and reproductive health position paper. [183725]

Hilary Benn: Sexual and reproductive health and rights are essential to human development and to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Our position paper commits us to action and investment to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights, and highlights the crucial links between sexual and reproductive health and rights and efforts to prevent HIV and AIDS. Sexual and reproductive health services are a cornerstone of efforts to prevent HIV infection and
 
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this will be reflected in the forthcoming HIV and AIDS strategy. They are also fundamental to enabling women and men to exercise informed choice in matters of childbearing.

Middle East

9. David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of prospects for economic development in Palestine. [183726]

Hilary Benn: The Palestinian economy is in deep crisis. This has been caused by the restrictions on the movement of Palestinian people and goods which the Government of Israel sees as an essential security procedure. The Israeli disengagement plan and additional donor funds will not alone improve the Palestinian economy. It must be accompanied by major change in the closure regime, and a reinvigorated programme of Palestinian reform.

13. Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what contribution his Department is making to tackling homelessness in Gaza. [183730]

Hilary Benn: DFID recently announced an additional contribution of £2 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) emergency programmes in Gaza. This will contribute to temporary housing, emergency food and medical care, cash assistance, house repairs and new houses in Rafah. The UK has contributed £32.7 million to UNRWA's emergency appeals to since the start of the Intifada. The Government have urged the Israeli Government in future operations to respect people's homes and take full account of international humanitarian law.

HIV/AIDS

10. Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what support the Government can give to tackle HIV/AIDS in Caribbean countries. [183727]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has recently agreed a £2.1 million programme of assistance to the Caribbean to firstly support the Pan Caribbean Partnership on HIV/AIDS. Secondly to support the joint programme of six Eastern Caribbean states to assist in for example training clinical care teams and the bulk purchase of anti retro viral medicines and testing kits. And third support to the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) to organise a high level Forum in November 2004 that will consider how to reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.

The UK Government also makes substantial contributions to the programmes of the European Commission, the World Bank and the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, all of whom are currently supporting HIV/AIDS programmes in the Caribbean.

15. Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what action the Government are taking with regard to HIV prevention in the developing world. [183732]

 
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Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK is the second biggest bilateral donor on AIDS. It is directly active on AIDS in 39 countries. We support the national AIDS strategies of developing country partners, involving all relevant parts of government. DFID supports a number of multilateral institutions including WHO, UNAIDS and UNFPA and was a prime mover in setting up the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), committing US $280 million over seven years.

Colombia

11. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development how much money was spent on development and humanitarian projects in Colombia in each of the last five years. [183728]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The British Government has spent over £8.23 million on development and humanitarian assistance in Colombia over the last five years, including over £5.28 million spent by DFID. In 1999–2000 total HMG spend was £2.19 million (£1.54 of which from DFID); in 2000–01 £2.25 million (£1.73 million from DFID); in 2001–02 £1.48 million (£934,000 from DFID); in 2002–03 £1.83 million (£600,000 from DFID); and in 2003–04 £832,000 (£485,000 from DFID).

DFID also contributes to Colombia through its 18 per cent. of European Commission (EC) development assistance. The EC has spent over £67.82 million ¹ on development and humanitarian assistance in Colombia over the last five years. This amount includes a share of over £12.20 million from DFID.

Additionally, DFID contributes to development in Colombia through its share of multilateral expenditure. The UK's share of spending in Colombia by multilateral organisations is estimated to be £1.25 million in 1997; £2.82 million in 1998; £1.23 million in 1999; £1.54 million in 2000; and £2.81 million in 2001.

¹ Exchange rate used: 1 = Euros 1.4859

Sudan

12. Mr. Savidge: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the situation in Darfur. [183729]

Hilary Benn: The UK Government are deeply concerned about the situation in Darfur. Humanitarian requirements in all sectors (food, water, shelter) are enormous. Civilian protection is also a major concern, with reports of systematic attacks on civilians. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report has identified disturbing patterns of human rights violations. DFID, with our EU partners, have made clear that all alleged attacks should be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.

DFID is in almost daily contact with the Government of Sudan and the Darfur groups, both through our embassy in Khartoum and the joint DFID/FCO Sudan Unit in London. I visited Sudan, including Darfur, on 6–8 June. I visited three displaced persons camps there, and met with NGOs and UN agencies on the ground. Following concerted pressure from the UK Government, in conjunction with others, we have
 
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secured commitments from the Sudanese Government on access to humanitarian supplies and the disarming of militias.

The UK is the second largest bilateral donor in Darfur, next to the US. Since September 2003, DFID has allocated £62.5 million to the humanitarian response to the crisis, which we are committing to UN agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations. UK funding has contributed to provision of water and sanitation, food, nutrition and health services for the displaced population and to their host communities in Darfur and Eastern Chad. DFID is also actively involved in urging the EU and other organisations to increase their funding.

In terms of the security situation and civilian protection, our priority remains on the rapid deployment of the African Union (AU)-led Ceasefire Monitoring Mission. Experience from elsewhere in Sudan shows that the deployment of ceasefire monitors can have a positive effect on the security situation and the protection of civilians. Following agreement of the AU's plan on 28 May, the UK immediately committed £2 million to enable swift deployment and we are working to provide a UK monitor to the mission.

Ultimately this crisis requires a political solution. The framework agreement reached in Naivasha in June of this year lays the groundwork for a comprehensive peace in Sudan. We continue to encourage the Government and the rebel groups in Darfur to meet and discuss a political solution.

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the use of satellites over Sudan. [183154]

Hilary Benn: DFID is very concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. As with all humanitarian emergencies, the international community is looking at the different technologies that can assist our response. This includes the use of satellites for telecommunications and satellite imagery.

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