Tom Cox: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what requirements were stipulated to contractors working on the refurbishment of Bellamy's cafeteria with respect to (a) hours of work, (b) noise levels of works and (c) dust levels; and if he will make a statement on when the work will be finished. [189525]
Derek Conway: The contractor is required to comply with the Control of Noise (Code of Practice for Construction and Open Sites) Order 1984 Regulations and BS 5228, the Code of Practice for Noise Control on Construction and Demolition Sites. The contractor is further required to comply with any local authority restrictions. Construction methodology and timing of work are reviewed with the contractor on a regular basis.
The control of dust is covered by conditions in the contract relating to nuisance under which the contractor is required to take all reasonable precautions to prevent such nuisance. The contractor also has responsibilities under health and safety legislation.
One of the project's stipulations is that the work to refurbish Bellamy's Kitchen must be completed within the summer months when the House is in recess, including the two week September return; a period of some 10 weeks. Given the significant amount of work involved maximum flexibility has been afforded: 24 hours per day, seven days a week working is available.
The works were forecast to be completed by the return of the House.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department has made in establishing a national fallen stock collection scheme; how many and what proportion of livestock farms have registered; and what plans she has for its future development. [190128]
Mr. Bradshaw:
The Board of the National Fallen Stock Company, in partnership with Government and the livestock industry, remain on target to launch the scheme this autumn. We will not know how many farmers will register until the scheme begins. Future development of the scheme is a matter for the Board but the Government are committed to providing £20 million over three years to help establish it on a firm footing.
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7. Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what effects instability in Iraq is having on his Department's work on reconstruction. [190361]
Hilary Benn: Present levels of instability in Iraq have slowed the pace of reconstruction. However, DFID's programmes are designed to be flexible and responsive to the current difficult security environment. Extensive measures are in place to safeguard the well-being of DFID employees and contractors working in Iraq. In southern Iraq, we are about to complete a substantial programme of infrastructure rehabilitation; and capacity-building and employment generation projects are well under way. Capacity-building support to key Iraqi ministries in Baghdad, and support for civil society, the judiciary and independent media, are also continuing.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much from departmental sources was spent in Iraq from June to September. [190354]
Hilary Benn: In the four months June to September this year, DFID disbursed a total of £15.95 million on Iraq. £15.5 million of this was programme funds, and £0.45 million was administrative costs.
In the three months between the handover of power to the Iraqi Interim Government on 28 June and the end of September, DFID disbursed a total of £11.7 million, of which £11.35 million was programme funds and £0.36 million was administrative costs.
8. Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is giving to Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement. [190362]
Hilary Benn: UK development assistance to Ethiopia is increasing rapidly from £44 million in 200304 to £85 million in 200506. Half of our support is direct support to the Government of Ethiopia's budget to enable them to increase their pro-poor spending with additional cooperation focusing on food security, capacity building and education plus support to tackle HIV/AIDS.
9. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has given to British dependencies and Commonwealth countries in (a) the Caribbean and (b) Central America affected by extreme weather conditions in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [190363]
Mr. Gareth Thomas:
Details of DFID's disaster relief to Caribbean countries that have been seriously affected by recent Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne were provided to the House in the oral statement of 14 September 2004 and written statement of 16 September 2004 by the
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Secretary of State for International Development. A further written statement, updating the House, was provided on 12 October 2004.
In addition to the responses to the recent hurricanes, DFID also provided some £420,000 of humanitarian assistance to Haiti, in May 2004, following severe flooding. This humanitarian assistance supported the flood relief and recovery programmes of Action Aid, Save the Children Fund and the World Food Programme for the provision of basic services, food, and water and sanitation interventions.
10. Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of co-operation between his Department and the EU on aid projects. [190384]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID continually monitors and assesses cooperation with the European Union on aid projects. At a political level, the Secretary of State and I regularly meet with counterparts from other EU Member States and the European Commission. There is similar contact at an official level both at headquarters and field levels.
11. Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent visit to Nigeria. [190385]
Hilary Benn: 8090 million Nigerian's live in poverty; only India and China have more poor.
Whether Africa attains the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) depends on Nigeria. Reforms are underway in Nigeria and there is an opportunity for change. The Government have launched their poverty reduction strategy and restored macroeconomic stability.
Donor and creditor support is critical to maintain the momentum of reform. DFID has doubled its aid to £70 million next year.
The UK is also committed to helping Nigeria to reach a sustainable solution to its debt problems through the Paris Club's Evian Approach.
12. Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on his Department's agriculture strategy. [190387]
Hilary Benn:
Following the launch of the 2003 Agriculture Policy Paper "Agriculture and poverty reduction: unlocking the potential", the Department for International Development has engaged in a consultative process seeking the views of others on ways to improve the effectiveness of our assistance to agriculture which will culminate in a new Agriculture Strategy Paper. This process has included an electronic forum that engaged over 550 participants and the development of 14 working papers providing material for the strategy. The first working papers are now
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available on our consultation website, and the remainder will be released shortly. DFID acknowledges the valuable input of NGOs, notably members of the UK Food Group, in this process. A summary draft of the strategy is being prepared, and we anticipate releasing this very shortly for wider consultation.
13. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of aid given (a) through the EU and (b) bilaterally in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. [190388]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: All EU member states, as well as the European Commission, are currently drawing up detailed reports on the contribution towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals. These are being prepared to a common format, agreed in advance, in order to allow comparisons to be drawn between the approaches and successes of each Member State, as well as the European Commission, in their respective development programmes.
The reports are due to be published later this year. There is no recent comparative analysis available at present which can match the thoroughness or comprehensiveness of these forthcoming reports.
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