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6 Dec 2004 : Column 281W—continued
Departmental Mobile Phones
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many departmental mobile telephones were used by Ministers, special advisers and officials in his Department in each year since 1997; at what cost; how many such telephones were lost or stolen in each year since 1997; and what the replacement costs were in each case. [202173]
Hilary Benn: Mobile phones were not managed under a central contract prior to 2003–04, and therefore information for earlier years (and information on mobile phones in overseas offices) is not readily available and could not be provided without incurring a disproportionate cost. Similarly, the costs incurred through the replacement of the individual phones stolen are not readily available and so also could not be provided without incurring a disproportionate cost.
Over the last two years, the number of mobile phones in use in the UK, and their costs (including equipment, call charges and access charges) as follows:
| Number of mobile phones | £ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 230 | 89,500 |
| 2004–05 (to date) | 434 | 92,800 |
These figures include the two mobile phones for Ministers and two for the special advisers.
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The total number of mobile phones lost or stolen since 2001 is 28, broken down as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 6 |
No information is available on phones lost prior to this period.
Departmental Properties
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility in each of the last two years. [200860]
Hilary Benn: There are no empty properties owned by DFID.
There are no other agencies or public bodies for which DFID is responsible.
Fair Trade
Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the percentage of British supermarket stock which is fairly traded; and what research his Department has carried out into fair trade products in the British market. [199547]
Hilary Benn: Over the past 10 years, the growth in sales of Fairtrade labelled goods in the UK has been rapid. There are now over 300 Fairtrade products which include coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, snacks and biscuits, sugar, honey, fruit juice and fresh fruit.
Sales of Fairtrade labelled products are expected to exceed £100 million for 2004 (out of an estimated £120 billion supermarket sales) and are increasing by 50 per cent. year on year. Fairtrade labelled products now account for 18 per cent. of the UK roast and ground coffee market, and over 3 per cent. of overall coffee sales. Fairtrade accounts for around 4 per cent. of the total UK banana market.
DFID has commissioned a number of research studies on Fair Trade, including a study on Understanding and Expanding Fair Trade, which focused on developing alternative coffee and cocoa markets for small sale farmers. In 2000, an overview and impact assessment study was commissioned to inform DFID's support to Fair Trade.
DFID supports the objectives of the Fairtrade Foundation and provides £300,000 to fund a number of activities, including annual Fairtrade Fortnight and public awareness raising campaigns.
Falluja
Glenda Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what action the UK is taking to ensure emergency water and electricity supplies are provided to the citizens of Falluja; [199840]
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(2) what assistance is being provided by the United Kingdom to restore essential utilities infrastructure to Falluja; [199841]
(3) what resources the UK plans to provide to assist in the re-building of Falluja; [199842]
(4) what emergency (a) medical supplies, (b) personnel and (c) equipment will be provided by the United Kingdom to assist those injured by coalition force attacks upon Falluja. [199843]
Hilary Benn: The Interim Iraqi Government (IIG) is leading on humanitarian and reconstruction work in Falluja and has established a central team to co-ordinate its assistance to the people of Falluja. This assistance includes: supplying food, water and medical supplies, restoring essential services, and refurbishing medical facilities. The UK is in close contact with the IIG, and DFID is providing advice to its Falluja co-ordination team.
The IIG and the Multi-National Force operating in Fallujah have reported that there is no humanitarian crisis so far and humanitarian visits to Falluja by British military officials confirm this assessment. Multi-National Forces have reported that their stockpiles of humanitarian supplies have provided for the immediate needs of Falluja's civilians. Iraqi Government and Iraqi Red Crescent trucks containing humanitarian supplies are now entering the city and the distribution of food, water, and medical supplies has begun. Injured civilians are being treated in mobile hospitals in Falluja, or have been taken for treatment at hospitals in nearby towns.
The Interim Iraqi Government (IIG) has also set aside significant funds from the Iraqi government budget for reconstruction work. The IIG is being supported by the Multi-National Force, which also has considerable resources for immediate post-conflict reconstruction work in Falluja, including clearing rubble and the restoration of water, sewerage and electricity services. United States agencies have planned around 100 reconstruction projects in the Falluja area totalling $84.1 million. These are due to begin soon and should complete by the end of January.
DFID is maintaining close contact with the IIG, with representatives of Multi-National Force-Iraq, and with humanitarian organisations on the ground, to address the needs of Falluja's population. DFID is ready to respond positively to requests for humanitarian help or further advice in Falluja or elsewhere.
Government Procurement (Developing Countries)
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had on including criteria on international labour standards in Government procurement procedures as a way of improving working conditions in developing countries. [201572]
Mr. Gareth Thomas:
DFID is actively involved in discussions on the inclusion of social issues in public procurement processes. At the request of the inter-departmental Sustainable Procurement Group, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is preparing a guidance note on social issues in purchasing. DFID has
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provided detailed comments on the OGC's initial draft including comments on the inclusion of labour standards issues.
Iraq
David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make aid available for charities to assist children orphaned by the war in Iraq who are in foster homes. [200221]
Hilary Benn: UNICEF, along with five other NGOs, undertook a study of the needs of Iraqi children made vulnerable by war and its aftermath during the summer of 2003. This study informed decisions on UNICEF project priorities (see below). UNICEF is also continuing its pre-war efforts of assisting children in particular vulnerable situations, such as children living and working on the street, orphaned or disabled children, and children in conflict with the law.
DFID support to the children of Iraq is currently channelled through two main mechanisms. The first is a Civil Service Fund (CSF—£5 million over two years), which is focused on strengthening the capacity of Iraqi civil society organisations (CSO) to better address the needs of the poor and vulnerable groups, especially women and young people. The second is the multi-donor trust fund managed by the United Nations, part of which supports the activities carried out by UNICEF to help vulnerable groups. DFID has made an initial contribution of £30 million to the trust fund.
Further information on DFID's Iraq programme can be found at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/countries/asia/iraq.asp
David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid he has made available to offer psychological care to people affected by the war in Iraq. [200223]
Hilary Benn: DFID's support for the health sector in Iraq, including psychosocial support, is being channelled through the multi-donor trust fund managed by the United Nations. UN work in this area will focus on the provision of technical assistance for the development of mental health and psychosocial support services at the primary level. DFID has made an initial contribution of £30 million to the UN managed trust fund.
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money has been allocated by his Department for the provision of humanitarian aid to Iraq in each of the last two years. [200944]
Hilary Benn:
Since the beginning of 2003, DFID has committed £333 million towards humanitarian and reconstruction work in Iraq. During 2003, over £132 million was allocated for humanitarian assistance, including contributions to United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations. So far, in 2004, DFID has allocated £201 million towards reconstruction and the restoration of essential services.
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Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department is supporting in Iraq. [201288]
Hilary Benn: Since March 2003, DFID has committed £333 million for humanitarian and reconstruction projects in Iraq, and disbursed approximately £251 million. This sum includes over £100 million disbursed through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations in response to humanitarian appeals in 2003.
Current projects in Iraq supported by DFID are listed as follows.
Reconstruction in southern Iraq:
£20 million to an Emergency Infrastructure Programme, which is improving the supply of water, power and fuel to over five million people in the south.
£20.5 million capacity building programme in the four southern Governorates, aimed at supporting strategic planning and financial management in both the public and private sectors.
£16.5 million programme to generate employment and address weaknesses in essential services in the four southern Governorates.
Technical assistance to help co-ordinate reconstruction in the south, and ensure completion of former Coalition Provisional Authority projects. (£5.5 million).
Re-establishing radio and television broadcasting capacity in the south, through training programmes and supply of equipment. (£7 million).
Support to government, justice, media and civil society:
Technical support and training (£4 million) within Iraq's system of public administration; focused on the centre of government (Prime Minister's Office, Council of Ministers' Secretariat, and Presidency) and in key ministries for reconstruction.
Support to the justice sector (£2 million): training programmes in international human rights law to Iraqi judges, lawyers and prosecutors.
£4.3 million macro-economic reform project to support the Iraqi Government in developing and implementing pro-poor economic reform programmes.
£5 million Political Participation Fund; supporting the development of legitimate and inclusive political institutions in Iraq, and to enable potentially marginalized groups to participate in the political process.
£5 million Civil Society Fund: strengthening the capacity of Iraqi civil society organisations to better address the needs of the most vulnerable groups.
£1 million media project: training journalists, editors and media managers on humanitarian and independent reporting.
£70 million contribution to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI), managed by the UN and the World Bank. Seventeen donors have committed around $1 billion to IRFFI. The UN and World Bank are implementing projects in a wide range of sectors including health, education, water and sanitation, electricity supply, support to refugees and internally displaced people, governance, and the electoral process.
Over £3 million to the IMF, to project support to the Interim Iraqi Government in economic governance and financial management.
Contribution of £8.5 million to the International Finance Corporation for a Small Business Fund Facility, designed to improve access to finance for small Iraqi businesses.
David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what expenditure has been allocated to treat victims of burns caused by the war in Iraq. [200108]
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Hilary Benn: DFID's support for the health sector in Iraq is being channelled through the multi-door trust fund managed by the United Nations. DFID has contributed £30 million to the fund so far focusing on a range of development sectors including health. DFID has no plans to provide bilaterial support for the treatment of burns.
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