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19 Oct 2004 : Column 565W—continued
Deforestation
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to discourage deforestation in poor countries prone to flooding; and if he will make a statement. [192054]
Hilary Benn: DFID's support to forestry in poor countries aims to help them manage and conserve their forests to provide the goods and services that people need. Protection of watersheds is one of these services. DFID spends about £20 million a year on forestry through country programmes and centrally funded research. DFID currently supports forestry work in Brazil, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nepal, South Africa and Uganda.
In addition, DFID invests about £29 million a year in the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a significant share of which is spent on forest conservation. To date the GEF has invested $770 million in 150 forestry projects.
DFID also contributes funds to a number of international organisations that have significant programmes of support to forestry, such as the World Bank, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the European Commission.
Know How Fund
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list projects financed through the Know How Fund in the past 12 months, broken down by type of project. [192218]
Hilary Benn: Assistance provided through the Know How Fund concluded in 1997. DFID's work in the Accession Countries, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and the Western Balkans since 1997 is set out in Country and Regional Strategy Papers. A review of DFID/ODA's programmes in the Accession Countries (Evaluation Report EV650) is available on DFID's website. www.dfid.gov.uk
Sudan
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received on the delivery of humanitarian aid to Darfur. [191548]
Hilary Benn: I am gravely concerned about the situation in Darfur, Sudan. The UN estimates that 2 million are people are in need of assistance in Darfur, including 1.45 million displaced. The World Food Programme estimated that in September over 1.3 million received food aid.
However, delivery of assistance is still inadequate. The World Health Organisation estimates that between 6,000–10,000 people are dying each month in Darfur. Insecurity and logistical difficulties continue to hamper the delivery of assistance. DFID is pressing all parties to the conflict to abide by the ceasefire and improve security. In addition, we have provided over £4 million to the World Food Programme for their logistical operations in Darfur and over £1 million to the UN for
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security operations. The UK is the second biggest bilateral donor to Darfur, committing £62.5 million since September 2003.
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
Commission Responsibilities
Dame Marion Roe: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make a statement on progress made by the House of Commons Commission in considering matters within its responsibility. [193008]
Sir Archy Kirkwood: At its meeting on 18 October, the House of Commons Commission considered the report on security on the parliamentary estate commissioned, together with the House of Lords authorities, from the Metropolitan Police and security service. This report has already been subject to detailed consideration by the informal joint committee on security which advises the presiding officers of both Houses.
The Commission does not propose to publish any details of the proposals in the report, which is for obvious reasons a classified document. Some recent enhancements of security arrangements have already been announced to Members. Work is already under way in a number of other areas, including planning for the permanent screen to be erected in the Chamber in 2005. The Commission has also agreed in principle to the appointment of a Parliamentary Security Co-ordinator. Many of the proposals will of course also require the agreement of the authorities in the House of Lords.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Linda Watson
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Solicitor-General what the result was of the internal complaints procedure investigation into the conduct by the Crown Prosecution Service of its decision to prosecute Linda Watson for the murder of her husband; and if she will make a statement. [190588]
The Solicitor-General: There has been no internal complaints procedure investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service staff who dealt with the case are not aware of any complaint having been made in relation to the conduct of the case, either at the time or subsequently.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Building Standards
David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent submissions he has received on the effect on building standards of the introduction of competition into building control; and if he will make a statement. [192289]
Phil Hope:
Private sector competition in building control is regulated through the Approved Inspectors (AIs) Regulations 2000. Building owners have the option of employing AIs as an alternative to traditional
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local authority building control services. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has designated the Construction Industry Council (CIC) as the vetting authority for AIs. Any submission concerning a reduction in building standards involving AIs would be dealt with seriously by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in conjunction with the CIC. There are no recent examples of such an occurrence.
Devolved Government
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made towards providing for effective devolved decision-making within a framework of national targets and policies. [191265]
Mr. Raynsford: The Government's approach to devolving decision-making was set out in the Devolved Decision Making Review, issued alongside Budget 2004.
At regional level the White Paper "Your Region, Your Choice" set out proposals for directly elected regional assemblies in those regions that wish to have them. On 4 November 2004, regional and local referendums will take place to decide whether an elected assembly is established in the North East.
The Government is working with the RDAs to develop a new framework for setting their objectives. This will simplify and strengthen the current arrangements and make sure performance is measured against real regional and national priorities. In the Spending Review 2004 the Government announced:
Increased Regional Development Agency (RDA) funding from £1.85 billion in 2004–05 to £2.3 billion by 2007–08. Since 2002, each RDA's funding has been in a single pot, giving them substantial flexibility to use their resources to respond to regional priorities;
RDAs will take on responsibility for the delivery of Business Link services, R and D grants and promoting enterprise in disadvantaged areas from April 2005;
In those regions where the RDA and Learning and Skills Council (LSC) want it, the Government will consider favourably a 'dual key' approach to the management of adult skills budgets operated by the RDA Chief Executive and the Regional LSC Director;
RDAs will have an enhanced role in supporting business-university collaboration, as part of the response to the Lambert Review;
The Government is examining new ways to integrate regional economic strategies with regional transport and spatial development strategies, within a framework of indicative long term funding guidelines. The first guideline budgets for the English regions will be published alongside the Chancellor's 2005 Budget statement.
At local level, the Government published 'The future of local government: Developing a 10 year vision', which sets out how the Government is taking the Devolving Decision Making review forward in the context of a longer term strategy for local government.
As part of this work, the Government recently announced proposals to pilot Local Area Agreements (LAAs) in 21 local authorities. LAAs are intended to simplify funding streams, join up public services and give councils and other local delivery partners more flexibility. They will build on the package of freedoms and flexibilities already given to local authorities.
19 Oct 2004 : Column 568W
Energy Efficiency (York)
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public money has been invested in energy efficiency measures in (a) council, (b) housing association and (c) private homes in York in each year since 1997. [191247]
Keith Hill: The information requested where available is given in three tables below. This information is not currently available for housing association homes.
| Investment (£million) | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 1,534000 |
| 1998–99 | 1,625000 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,267000 |
| 2000–01 | 1,349000 |
| 2001–02 | 1,944000 |
| 2002–03 | 1,529000 |
| 2003–04 | Figures unavailable |
These figures cover, double-glazing, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and heating improvements. This work has been completed by the local authority as part of an overall modernisation programme for housing.
| Investment £000 | |
|---|---|
| 1997–8 | 157,000 |
| 1998–9 | 680,000 |
No further information available.
| Number of households helped | Total spent £000 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 44 | 13,126.00 |
| 1999–2000 | 389 | 137,315.29 |
| 2000–01 | 515 | 191,528.79 |
| 2001–02 | 295 | 264,577.60 |
| 2002–03 | 112 | 112,096.89 |
| 2003–04 | 129 | 38,346.91 |
This investment covers cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, heating systems and boiler replacement.
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