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27 Jan 2005 : Column 482W—continued
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003 his special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost. [207179]
Mr. Charles Clarke: I refer the hon. Member to the reply the former Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett) gave on 1 September 2003, Official Report, column 1000W.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Asian Tsunami
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will give details of the first warning the UK Government received about the impending tsunami on 26 December 2004; and if he will make a statement. [207796]
Hilary Benn:
I refer the hon. Member to my reply given on 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 28W, to my hon. Friend for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith).
27 Jan 2005 : Column 483W
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the priorities are for the help that his Department is giving to those countries affected by the Boxing Day tsunami. [210584]
Hilary Benn: In the days immediately following the disaster, DFID's priorities were to ensure that basic emergency assistance such as food, shelter, water and sanitation and medical support reached those most in need. DFID also prioritised supporting the overall co-ordination and capacity of the international response through the United Nations, including the gathering of information on needs.
As most of the affected countries are moving into a recovery stage, DFID's present priorities are to continue to ensure that assistance is reaching all affected people, push to get coordination mechanisms fully operational, unblock remaining logistic bottlenecks, ensure the right key personnel are in place and provide assistance where requested by DFID's field teams or through direct requests from the affected governments or the United Nations.
CDC/Actis Capital
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what minimum percentage return the Government expects on investments by CDC/Actis Capital. [210518]
Hilary Benn: DFID has agreed with the Treasury, a target overall rate of return of 5 per cent. per annum on the capital that the Government have invested in CDC. The individual Funds in which CDC's capital is invested have differing target rates of return depending on their particular objectives and the markets in which they are working.
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the rate of return on investments by CDC/Actis Capital was in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004. [210519]
Hilary Benn: The rate of return on investments made by CDC were as follows for the following periods:
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| (a) 2001 | -11.1 |
| (b) 2002 | 6.5 |
| (c) 2003 | 9.6 |
| (d) 2004 | (21)14.6 |
(21)Estimated—figures only available to 30 September
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if he will list investments by CDC/Actis Capital in the energy sector in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004 broken down by (i) amount and (ii) percentage of the total CDC/Actis Capital portfolio; [210520]
(2) how much CDC/Actis Capital has invested in renewable energy; and what percentage of its total energy portfolio this figure represents; [210521]
(3) what discussions his Department has had with CDC/Actis Capital about targets for their investment in renewable energy. [210522]
27 Jan 2005 : Column 484W
Hilary Benn: CDC made 27 investments in the energy sector in the period between 2001 and 2004. The investments were in the following companies:
Amounts invested in each company are commercially confidential. Total annual investments by CDC in the energy sector and their percentage of total investments were as follows:
| Amount (£ million) | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 147 | 11 |
| 2002 | 203 | 15 |
| 2003 | 343 | 26 |
| 2004 | 317 | 27 |
CDC has invested US$104 million in renewable energy projects, which represents some 17 per cent. of its total energy portfolio. These figures are based on 31 December 2004 valuations.
DFID has had no discussions with CDC about targets for their investment in renewable energy. However, we understand that CDC is exploring the possibilities of further investment in renewable energy with Actis, its main investment manager.
Congolese Refugees
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the number of people leaving the Democratic Republic of Congo since the beginning of 2005 to seek refuge in each of the neighbouring countries; and if he will make a statement. [210713]
27 Jan 2005 : Column 485W
Hilary Benn: Through reporting from the office United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and maintenance of contact with other humanitarian agencies DFID continues to monitor the recent increased movement of Congolese refugees across the Democratic Republic of Congo/Uganda border.
(i) 5,000–7,000 refugees crossed into Uganda between 2 and 8 January, fleeing fighting between Hema and Lendu groups in Ituri. They crossed Lake Albert and are encamped at Nkondo in Hoima District, western Uganda. These are mostly women and children. The area where they are camped is difficult to access. UNHCR would like them to move to an established refugee camp (Kyaka II) in Kyenjojo district, but the refugees are reluctant to move without their menfolk. To date only a few have agreed to do so.
(ii) 10,100 refugees, mainly women and children, arrived in Ishasha in Kanungu district near Lake Edward, between 9 and 15 January. This movement was in response to fighting between Mai-Mai and Rally for Congolese Democracy groups in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. There are reports that up to 7000 of these people have now returned to the DRC. There are also reports that continued fighting might result in the arrival of more refugees from the DRC in the near future. Assessments are ongoing and the refugees are receiving support from UNHCR, UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and Medecins Sans Frontieres.
DFID remains in close contact with the UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies and will continue to monitor developments.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) information his Department has received and (b) assessment his Department has made of the (i) size and (ii) nature of the two groups of Congolese refugees reported by the UN refugee agency on 18 January to have crossed into Uganda during the weeks of 10 and 17 January; and if he will make a statement. [210714]
Hilary Benn: DFID continues to monitor the recent increased movement of Congolese refugees across the border of Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda through reporting from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and by maintaining contact with other humanitarian agencies.
DFID has information covering the period since 1 January 2005, and we know, that:
(i) Between 5,000 and 7,000 refugees crossed into Uganda over the period of 2–8 January, fleeing fighting between Hema and Lendu groups in Ituri. They crossed Lake Albert and are encamped at Nkondo in Hoima District, western Uganda. These are mostly women and children. The area where they are camped is difficult to access. The UNHCR would like them to move to an established refugee camp (Kyaka II) in the Kyenjojo district.
(ii) 10,100 refugees, mainly women and children, arrived in Ishasha in Kanungu district near Lake Edward, between 9 and 15 January. This movement was in response to fighting between
- Mai-Mai and Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratie (RDC) groups in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. There are reports that up to 7,000 of these people have now returned to the DRC, while approximately 1,000 have been transferred to Kyaka II. There are also reports that continued fighting might result in the arrival of more refugees from DRC in the near future. The refugees are receiving support from the UNHCR, UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and Medecins Sans Frontieres.
DFID remains in close contact with the UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies, and will continue to monitor developments.
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