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22 Jul 2004 : Column 383W—continued

Disaster-prone Regions

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what actions have been taken to improve the Department's strategies for disaster-prone regions since the publication of the National Audit Office's report on Responding to Humanitarian Emergencies, HC 1227 of Session 2002–03; [186056]

(2) whether his Department systematically analyses and reduces disaster risks within its development planning and programming; [186057]

(3) when his Department will formulate a strategy to mainstream disaster preparedness and mitigation into its development work; and if he will make a statement; [186058]

(4) what plans his Department has to take disaster risks into account in its approach to development; and if he will make a statement. [186059]

Hilary Benn: A reduction in the incidence and impact of natural and man-made disasters is an essential precondition for poverty reduction in many countries.
 
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DFID accepts that we need to give due weight to ensuring that our development policies are risk aware and that people's vulnerability to risks is reduced. For example, DFID's Global Environmental Assets team is seeking to promote the integration of climate change risk into development planning. DFID's Central Asia, South Caucasus and Moldova team has carried out a review of disaster preparedness and response capacity in Central Asia to analyse gaps in support of disaster reduction and prevention.

DFID has agreed to change the guidance for DFID country teams preparing Country Assistance Plans to ensure that disaster risk reduction issues are taken into consideration. DFID's guidance to country teams on environmental screening instructs country teams to examine disaster risk issues.

DFID is in the process of reviewing how we might step up our work in this area. A scoping study, commissioned by DFID and undertaken by the Overseas Development Group, will report soon on how the development community and DFID can tackle disaster risk most effectively. It will also advise on ways to better mainstream disaster risk reduction and mitigation into development work. DFID expects to develop a forward strategy for DFID on disaster reduction in the light of the findings of this study. The findings will be disseminated to interested parties.

The Government are commissioning a report to document UK civil society work in disaster reduction in preparation for the World Conference on disaster reduction to be held in Kobe, Japan next January, it is hoped this will enable networking and skill sharing within the disaster community.

HIV/AIDS

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the impact on children with HIV/AIDS of the shortage of specially designed drugs. [185351]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Every day, about 1,700 children become infected with HIV. There are an estimated 2.1 million children under age 15 living with HIV in the world today. The vast majority of these are in developing countries.

Including children with HIV in treatment and care programmes is critical. Brazil has successfully implemented antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for children and adolescents as part of its national treatment policy. A number of other countries, including Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa, are beginning to enrol large numbers of children with HIV in their programmes.

However, the absence of specially designed drugs for children causes problems. Many ARVs are not available in paediatric formulations that can be given to small children as a liquid, and tablets are often not
 
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manufactured in small enough doses for a child's body weight, requiring pharmacists and doctors to guess how to break up tablets or dose according to weight.

The UK, through its recently published strategy on HIV and AIDS and DFID's new policy on HIV and AIDS treatment and care, has committed to support research into paediatric treatments including paediatric ARVs, and future treatment options. Indeed, the new HIV and AIDS Strategy prioritises the needs of children alongside those of women and vulnerable and marginalised groups. The UK has committed £150 million over the next three years on work to respond to the needs of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. DFID has also
 
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endorsed UNICEF's Strategic Framework on Orphans and Vulnerable Children. We will work to ensure children have access to treatment and care.

Overseas Aid/Funding

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the UK provided (a) directly, (b) through the EU and (c) through trade agreements to (i) Nicaragua, (ii) the Philippines, (iii) Romania and (iv) Ukraine in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [185650]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The table shows how much funding DFID provided directly and through the EU, for the relevant countries:
UK Aid
£000

1998/991999/20002000/012001/022002/03
Nicaragua1,9963,7806366132,397
Philippines10,2206,4242,2455,7441,177
Romania4,1583,7443,4395,3966,167
Ukraine8,6198,4429,3318,8777,892

EU multilateral share
£million

19971998199920002001
Nicaragua2.63.33.05.23.6
Philippines3.03.93.43.42.9
Romania11.419.12.832.257.5
Ukraine0.811.28.48.811.8

There is no separate funding under trade agreements. Any funding relating to trade agreements is included in the above figures.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the UK provided (a) directly, (b) through the EU and (c) through trade agreements to (i) Honduras, (ii) Kazakhstan, (iii) Macedonia, (iv) Moldova and (v) Mongolia in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [185652]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The following table shows how much funding DFID provided directly and through the EU for the relevant countries:
UK aid
£000

1998–991999–20002000–012001–022002–03
Honduras3,3512,0971,3711,2201,075
Kazakhstan1,3591,077896699720
Macedonia53012,3262,1858,0661,837
Moldova8258291,0741,5843,354
Mongolia4773221,408542395

EU multilateral share
£ million

19971998199920002001
Honduras0.71.31.82.21.7
Kazakhstan1.31.41.90.80.9
Macedonia1.03.09.710.66.7
Moldova0.80.91.10.70.6
Mongolia0.30.20.70.70.4









 
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There is no separate funding under trade agreements. Any funding relating to trade agreements is included in the figures.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the UK provided (a) directly, (b) through the EU
 
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and (c) through trade agreements to (i) Albania, (ii) Azerbaijan, (iii) the Dominican Republic, (iv) El Salvador and (v) Georgia in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [185653]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Details of funding are as set out as follows:
UK aid
£000

1998–991999–20002000–012001–022002–03
Albania64315,2402,2884,1782,582
Azerbaijan498697688479269
Dominican25335,20964611,08217,362
El Salvador2993186,2654,572945
Georgia1,2729582,7892,4472,386

EU
£ million

19971998199920002001
Albania2.29.71310.67.6
Azerbaijan232.62.51.6
Dominican2.34.13.21.61.6
El Salvador1.52.41–61.81.8
Georgia22.73.21.72.9

There is no separate source of funding for trade agreements and any such assistance is included in the figures.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) monetary aid and (b) aid in kind his Department has (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to (A) Albania, (B) Azerbaijan and (C) the Dominican Republic (1) in each financial year since 1997–98 and (2) in each month since January 2003; what new programmes his Department has (y) initiated and (z) funded in each country since January 2003; and if he will make a statement. [185654]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The table as follows shows what has been delivered to Albania, Azerbaijan and Dominican Republic in terms of aid in kind and monetary aid from 1997–8 to 2003–4 (latest figures). DFID does not keep monthly records of pledges or expenditures specifically in terms of aid in kind or monetary aid; DFID also does not keep records of how much has been pledged specifically in terms of aid in kind or monetary aid.
Bilateral aid by country
£

Monetary aidTechnical cooperationAid and trade provisionGrants and other aid in kindHumaintarian assistance(1)DFID debt relief(2)Total DFID programme
Albania1997–9839964286749
1998–995893519643
1999–20006282914,58315,240
2000–01850-571,3812,288
2001–023,4461086244,178
2002–032,360157652,582
2003–04(4)1,8063152002,321
Azerbaijan1997–9850120391912
1998–9944849498
1999–200064353697
2000–0134311334688
2001–02411563—;479
2002–0325613269
2003–04(4)11348161
Dominican Republic1997–98
1997–98
1998–99235982
1999–20004040
2000–014848
2001–023131
2002–037575
2003–04(4)7272




1. Humanitarian Assistance comprises food aid and other humanitarian assistance.
2. This comprises both interest and principal foregone under Retrospective Terms Adjustment. Amounts reported are repayments which would have fallen due each year.
3. 2001–02 is a unique year in that total DFID expenditure is understated by around £140 million due to move to resource accounting.
4. The figures for 2003–04 are still provisional.





 
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There are two new programmes in Albania: Support to Tax Administration Reform. The goal of this project is "To strengthen and stabilise the role of the State in order to alleviate poverty in Albania through the positive effect of economic activity and stability" at a cost of £1.2 million over two years; National Strategy for Socio-Economic Development Support Programme (NSSED): Albania, the goal of this programme is to mainstream the NSSED in public policy processes over the next three years at a cost of £1.2 million.

DFID does not have a bilateral programme in Azerbaijan. Direct funding to Azerbaijan is however provided through the Small Grants Scheme (SGS) administered by the British embassy. For 2004–05, the budget for the SGS is £36,450.

Together with the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence, DFID is supporting work in the South Caucasus through the Global Conflict Pool (GCPP). From September 2003, the UK has been supporting Conflict Resolution work in Nagorno Karabakh. This aims to improve understanding of the conflict among
 
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stakeholders, strengthen conflict sensitivity amongst national and international actors working in the region and implement activities that contribute to peace. DFID's contribution to this work is £2.4 million over three years.

DFID gave support to the Dominican Republic and Haiti on the 1 May (40,000) after the flooding there.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) monetary aid and (b) aid in kind his Department has (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to (A) El Salvador, (B) Georgia, (C) Honduras, (D) Kazakhstan, (E) Macedonia, (F) Moldova, (G) Mongolia and (H) Nicaragua (1) in each financial year since 1997–98 and (2) in each month since January 2003; what new programmes his Department has (x) initiated and (y) funded in each country since January 2003; and if he will make a statement. [185715]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The following table shows how much monetary aid and aid in kind DFID has delivered in each financial year since 1997–98.
Bilateral aid by country
£000

Monetary aidTechnical cooperationAid and trade provisionGrants and other aid in kindHumanitarian assistance(1)DFID debt relief(2)Total DFID programme(3)
El Salvador
1997–9825187211
1998–99825239299
1999–20003315318
2000–013691,4511,820
2001–02271160431
2002–037623527338
2003–04(4)899107
Honduras
1997–986272592801,166
1998–994443301,5262802,580
1999–20005795376083732,097
2000–0130569123731,371
2001–024304653241,220
2002–03231317434931,075
2003–04(4)45325193797
Kazakhstan
1997–981,978118502,145
1998–991,284581,342
1999–2000993831,077
2000–0182176896
2001–0267425699
2002–0368832720
2003–04(4)1,212211,233
Nicaragua
1997–9841451150361,011
1997–992044131,3791,996
1999–20002705493341,153
1999–0116146411636
2000–02125338150613
2001–036264171,043
2003–04(4)2552415341,029
Georgia
1997–98714723171,103
1998–99739454881,272
1999–200058236340958
2000–0182751,9562,789
2001–021,947864142,447
2002–031,6791315752,386
2003–04(4)1,701943012,096
Moldova
1997–9860838645
1998–9979530825
1999–200075475829
2000–011,034401,074
2001–021,58221,584
2002–033,35233,354
2003–04(4)2,383492,433
Macedonia (FYR of)
1997–9866658725
1998–99481481530
1999–20008375011,40912,296
2000–011,151989362,185
2001–023,0001,564713,4308,066
2002–031,62077941,791
2003–04(4)1,255105801,440
Mongolia
1997–9881378458
1998–9989380470
1999–20003525532322
2000–015362755971,408
2001–0220624789542
2002–03129166100395
2003–04(4)14253267


(1) Humanitarian assistance comprises food aid and other humanitarian assistance.
(2) This comprises both interest and principal foregone under retrospective terms adjustment. Amounts reported are repayments which would have fallen due each year.
(3) 2001–02 is a unique year in that total DFID expenditure is understated by around £140 million due to move to resource accounting.
(4) Figures for 2003–04 are provisional.



 
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DFID does not keep monthly records of pledges or expenditures specifically in terms of aid in kind or monetary aid.
 
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The following table shows new programmes DFID has initiated and funded in each country since January 2003.
£

CountryProgrammeCommitment
El SalvadorNetwork to combat commercial sex exploitation223,000
GeorgiaPoverty reduction and good governance assessment4,000
GeorgiaTechnical assistance to the Ministry of Health to establish a sustainable and affordable system of primary healthcare5,220,000
GeorgiaTechnical assistance to the Ministry of Finance to enable the Government to utilise resources effectively165,000
HondurasPoverty reduction strategy1,582,000
Honduras/ NicaraguaHIV/AIDS programme1,900,000
Central America including Honduras/ Nicaragua/ El SalvadorSupport to regional unit for technical assistance (RUTA) to promote rural development700,000
MacedoniaPublic administration reform phase 23,000,000
MoldovaSupport for the national rural development strategy9,000
MoldovaSupport to the rural investment services project2,680,000
MoldovaPoverty synthesis study to strengthen poverty reduction and improve programme effectiveness5,000
MoldovaContribution to the population census200,000
MoldovaContinuation of support to the Ministry of Finance for the development of a medium term expenditure framework500,000
MoldovaWork through the global conflict prevention pool on a peace-building framework project to facilitate civil society engagement in conflict reduction (with the FCO)440,000
NicaraguaCivil society monitoring434,000
NicaraguaDFID/Inter-American development bank (IDB) cooperation to enhance social inclusion1,669,250
NicaraguaMaximising access to appropriate quality adolescent reproductive health services500,000
NicaraguaViolence reduction720,000
NicaraguaPromoting women's citizenship179,000
NicaraguaYouth sexual and reproductive health rights500,000
NicaraguaPromoting equity through economic growth2,500,000

 
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There have been no new programmes initiated in Kazakhstan or Mongolia since January 2003. DFID provides direct funding to these countries through the Small Grants Scheme (SGS) administered through the British Embassy. For 2004–05 the budget for the SGS is £45,000 and £200,000 respectively.


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