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Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action the Government are taking to tackle the problem of AIDS worldwide. [184317]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement made by the Secretary of State to the House earlier today and to the Government's new Strategy 'Taking Action: The UK's Strategy for Tackling HIV/AIDS in the Developing World' copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for how many empty houses his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement. [182143]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID is not responsible for any empty houses.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action he is taking to address the long-term causes of environmental vulnerability of poor communities in Haiti and the
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Dominican Republic following the recent flooding and landslides in the border region between the two countries. [184328]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID responded swiftly to the recent floods in Hispaniola providing £0.5 million of immediate humanitarian support to the relief operation in Haiti through the United Nations and non-governmental organisations. £259,400 of this money will go in support of emergency programmes to re-launch agricultural production and help provide food security, water and sanitation, distribution of non-food items and interventions in emergency education.
The longer-term reconstruction and development needs of Haiti have recently been assessed, costed and set out in a two-year Interim Co-operation Framework covering the period July 2004 to September 2006. One of its specific priority sectors is environmental protection and rehabilitation. An International Donor Conference will take place on 1920 July in Washington DC at which donors will pledge financial support to Haiti. The UK will participate in this Conference. DFID's financial contribution will be through the EU and shareholdings in the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank.
In the Dominican Republic, DFID provides support through a small grants scheme, which assists non-government organisations to target poverty reduction.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to measure the criterion the Department set itself in its current Regional Assistance Plan for the Caribbean of improved understanding of Haiti's situation and options for recovery. [184329]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID undertook a fact-finding mission to Haiti in June 2003, in order to become familiar with the situation on the ground. In 2004 DFID sent two missions to Haiti to assess the humanitarian situation, following the political violence and instability in the first quarter of 2004, and the floods in May.
DFID works closely with an international network of bilateral and multilateral institutions working to support Haiti, including the Haiti Contact Group co-ordinated by the World Bank. The UK will be represented at the upcoming International Donors Conference on Haiti, to be held in Washington on July 19 and 20, which will focus on securing donor support for the Interim Co-operation Framework.
DFID also maintains contact with civil society organisations in order to get their perspective on the situation in Haiti. DFID officials met with UK NGOs working in Haiti in May 2004 and DFID receives regular information from civil society organisations through various channels, including the Haiti Support Group.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how he will work with the EU to ensure that EU aid to the interim Haitian Government is conditional on ensuring that the aid is directed towards those most in need. [184331]
Mr. Gareth Thomas:
The provision of EU aid to Haiti under the European Development Fund (EOF) has been subject to constraints applied by member states
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within the Common Position since January 2001. EOF 8 funds have only been available for civil society projects and electoral support. On 16 July, the appropriate measures put in place by the EU in relation to Haiti under Article 96 of the Cotonou agreement were amended and the European Commission will notify the interim Haitian Government of the funds available under EOF 9.
EU development assistance can be provided only after free and fair elections have been held. Once funds start to flow, DFID will monitor how these are spent as part of our continuing watching brief on Haiti. DFID will be particularly keen to ensure that poverty reduction is the principal focus of this assistance.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking for immediate release of funds for Haiti under the European Development Fund (EDF 9). [184332]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: €27 million from EDF 8 will continue to support programmes of direct benefit to the population of Haiti through civil society organisation and the electoral process.
On 16 July, the European Council agreed that the appropriate measures, which had been in place by the EU in relation to Haiti under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, should be amended. This decision means that the European Commission will now notify the interim Haitian Government of the level of funding under EOF 9 which is available to Haiti, and will proceed to draft the new Country Strategy Paper.
Under EOF 9, €95 million is available to Haiti. Of this €72 million cannot be disbursed until the Country Strategy Paper is developed, and free and fair elections have been held. At this point the National Indicative Programme will be prepared which sets out how the detail of these funds will be used. The other €23 million, under EOF 9, can be released prior to the signing of the National Indicative Programme.
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Kenyan Government on assistance on their current budget deficits; and if he will make a statement. [185020]
Hilary Benn: DFID is in regular contact with the Kenyan Government on this issue. DFID's Kenya Country Assistance Plan recognises that budget support is Kenya's preferred form of aid. It also makes clear that the level of British aid to Kenya, and whether or not DFID will provide bilateral poverty reduction budget support, will depend on the pace with which the Kenyan Government implements its Economic Recovery Strategy, especially in tackling corruption, preparing and implementing budgets that benefit the poor, and strengthening public financial management.
Progress is not yet sufficient to enable us to provide such support. DFID is particularly concerned about recent reports of corruption allegedly involving senior members of the Kenyan Government and we have urged President Kibaki to ensure that appropriate and firm action is taken to investigate these reports, make the
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results public and take action against all those found to have acted corruptly. However, DFID will continue to use sectoral support and project aid where we believe that it can have a sustainable impact on poverty reduction and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals in Kenya.
5. Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority regarding rail routes from Southampton to the midlands; and if he will make a statement. [184919]
Dr. Howells: Ministers and officials in my Department meet regularly with the Strategic Rail Authority about a wide range of issues.
The Government have set out their long-term proposals for passenger and freight services in the "Future of Rail" White Paper.
14. John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on improvements to the west coast main line. [184928]
Dr. Howells: The West Coast Upgrade is being delivered in line with the Strategy published by the Strategic Rail Authority in June 2003. New tilting trains have entered service, and a new timetable will be introduced in September this year with enhanced service frequencies and reduced journey times. Further improvements will follow in 2005 and 2008.
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