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Child Protection

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if he will make a statement on the Government's support for development of solar energy projects in Angola; [192606R]
 
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(2) what plans he has to increase support for development of solar energy projects in Angola. [192607R]

Hilary Benn: The British Embassy in Luanda, in partnership with British Petroleum (BP), co-funded a pilot project to give the village of Paranhos communal lighting, power supply to the school and clinic, potable water and some domestic lighting. Paranhos was selected in part because it houses roughly equal numbers of families from both sides of Angola's civil war. The project, as well as demonstrating the viability of renewable energy, is also an important part of the process of national reintegration.

This small pilot project and BP's interest in setting it up are welcome. I hope that BP and the Government of Angola are able to follow this up to ensure that the equipment continues to operate properly, providing a useful service to the selected village. No doubt, there are valuable lessons that can be learnt from this project, not least how best it might be replicated on a larger scale to provide permanent, reliable services.

In general, while solar energy can deliver useful benefits, it does have limitations, notably its inability to provide heat for cooking, the main energy requirement for most households in Africa. Other issues, such as the need to periodically replace expensive batteries, were taken into account in the design of the Paranhos project. This experience and the lessons learnt from this pilot need to be properly understood before there is any consideration of expanding it to other communities.

DFID is not providing support for renewable energy sources in Angola. However, more generally, DFID has funded some 75 energy projects since 1992 through our Knowledge and Research Programme (47 of which were started since May 1997) with a total value of £10 million, of which £3.6 million was spent on the development and promotion of renewable energy, especially for rural communities in developing countries. These have covered a wide range of technologies, including wind, small hydropower, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and biomass.

DFID has recently signed a Programme Partnership Agreement with an international UK-based NGO, Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) for £750,000 per year. Much of their work is the promotion of small-scale renewable energy technologies in developing countries to improve access to energy services, especially for poor communities.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee on financial and technical assistance and economic co-operation with developing countries in Asia and Latin America met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (a) technical and (b) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were
 
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(i) proposed and (ii) taken by the (A) EU and (B) UK as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [192496]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Greek Presidency of the European Union occupied the first six months of 2003. During that period the Asia and Latin America Management Committee met twice on 27 February and on 3 April. All meetings were held in Brussels. Officials represented the UK from the Department for International Development (DFID) and the United Kingdom Representation in Brussels.

The Asia and Latin America Management Committee operates independently of the Presidency. It is convened and chaired by the Commission and is constituted for Member States to assist the Commission with implementation of Council Regulation No 443/92 of 25 February 1992. The EC's Asia and Latin America programme determines the strategy framework for technical assistance and economic co-operation with developing countries in Asia and Latin America, and approves annual and multi-annual allocations to country and regional programmes. The details of discussions in the Committee are confidential and are covered by the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, Part II, exemption 2. This exemption covers internal discussion and advice where the disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. However, under Council Decision 1999/468/EC, the EC publishes an annual reports on the workings of the Committee.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee on implementation of the programme of assistance to promote the transition to a market economy and to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in the partner states of eastern Europe and central Asia met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee made during the Greek presidency; and if he will make a statement. [192501]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Greek Presidency of the European Union occupied the first six months of 2003. During that period, the Phare Management Committee met four times during the Greek Presidency: 7 February; 7 March; 11 April; 12 June. All meetings were held in Brussels and the UK was represented by officials from DFID, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and the United Kingdom Representation in Brussels (UKREP).

The Phare Management Committee oversees the implementation of Council Regulation 1266/1999 of 21 June 1999. The Phare Management Committee is convened and constituted by Member States to assist the Commission with the implementation of the Community's Phare Programme. It operates independently of the Presidency. Phare is the programme of EC pre-accession Assistance to applicant countries. The programme has three objectives: to strengthen public administrations and institutions; to promote convergence with European Union legislation and to promote economic and social cohesion. The Committee determines the strategy framework for the Phare Programme, and approves annual and multi-annual allocations to country and
 
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regional programmes The detail of the discussions in the Committees are confidential and are covered by the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, Part II, exemption 2. Under Council Decision 1999/468/EC, the EC is required to publish an annual report on the workings of the Committees.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the committees on (a) co-financing operations with European non-governmental organisations in fields of interest to the developing countries and (b) food security and food aid met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the committees produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193009]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Greek Presidency of the European Union occupied the first six months of 2003. During that period the NGO Co Financing Committee met twice on 21 January and on 3 June. The Food Aid and Food Security Management Committee met once on 28 February. All meetings were held in Brussels. The UK was represented in both Committees by officials from the Department for International Development (DFID).

The Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) Co Financing Committee operates independently of the Presidency. It is convened and chaired by the Commission and is constituted for Member States to assist the Commission with implementation of Council Regulation No 1658–98 of 17 July 1998. The European Community's (EC) NGO Co Financing programme considers co-financing operations with European NGOs development organisations in fields of interest to the developing countries.

The Food Security and Food Aid Management Committee operates independently of the Presidency. It is convened and chaired by the Commission and is constituted for Member States to assist the Commission with implementation of Council Regulation No 1292/96 of 27 June 1996. The EC's Food Security and Food Aid programme consists of identification, planning and implementation of food aid operations and operations in support of food security in developing countries.

The detail of discussions in the Committees are confidential and are covered by the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, Part II, exemption 2. This exemption covers internal discussion and advice where the disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. However, under Council Decision 1999/468/EC, the EC publishes annual reports on the workings of the Committees.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the (a) European Development Fund Committee and (b) Advisory Committee on the special system of assistance to traditional ACP suppliers of bananas met; when and
 
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where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the committees produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193016]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Greek Presidency of the European Union occupied the first six months of 2003. During that period the European Development Fund (EDF) Committee met twice on 12 February and on 7 May. The Advisory Committee on the special system of assistance to traditional ACP suppliers of bananas did not meet in this period. All meetings were held in Brussels. The UK was represented by officials from the Department for International Development (DFID) and from the UK's Permanent Representation in Brussels.

The EDF Committee operates independently of the Presidency. It is convened and chaired by the Commission and is constituted for member states to meet with the Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Its role is to scrutinise and approve financing proposals and allocation of EDF funds, serve as a forum for exchange of views on country and regional strategies and approve multi-annual allocations to country and regional programmes.

Operations financed from the European Development Fund are governed by the provisions of the Partnership Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Community (ACP-EU) signed in Cotonou, Benin on 23 June 2000 (known as the Cotonou Agreement).

Details of discussions in the Committee are confidential and are covered by the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, Part II, and exemption 2. This exemption covers internal discussion and advice where the disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. However, the 15 December 2000 Internal Agreement applicable to the Cotonou Agreement specifies that the Commission produces an annual report. This report is subject to parliamentary scrutiny in the normal manner.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee on implementation of humanitarian aid operations met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (a) technical and (b) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (i) proposed and (ii) taken by (A) the EU and (B) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [193024]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Greek Presidency of the European Union occupied the first six months of 2003. During that period the Humanitarian Aid Committee met six times, on a monthly basis. Five meetings were
 
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held in Brussels, and one in Athens (May 2003). The UK was represented by officials from DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department.

The Humanitarian Aid Committee operates independently of the Presidency. It is convened and chaired by the Commission and is constituted for Member States to assist the Commission with implementation of Council Regulation No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid. The EC's humanitarian aid programme provides assistance, relief and protection to victims of natural disasters and man-made crises in third countries, as well as preparedness for risks of natural disasters. It approves annual allocations ('global plans') to countries suffering chronic humanitarian crises, as well as emergency response to disasters.

The details of discussions in the Committee are confidential and are covered by the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, Part II, exemption 2. This exemption covers internal discussion and advice where the disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

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