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HIV/AIDS Orphans

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government will take to encourage other G8 and EU member states to endorse and commit resources to implement the framework for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children living with HIV and Aids. [211000]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In July this year, DFID was one of the first bilateral development agencies, along with Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to endorse the UNAIDS/UNICEF Framework for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children living in a world with HIV/AIDS. Since then we have taken every opportunity to promote its use with governments and other organisations working to provide protection, care and support to children affected by AIDS. This includes children living with HIV and AIDS.

Along with other member states we are engaging in the consultation process towards a new Programme for Action on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis which the EC expects to adopt in 2006. The current Programme for Action does not address orphans and vulnerable children and we will consider how best to address this gap in the forthcoming consultations.

We will use our presidencies of the G8 and the EU to increase action on AIDS and will encourage those member states who have not yet endorsed the framework to do so. Committing resources to implement the framework for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children through national plans is key to this. We have announced our £150 million spending commitment over three years and will be encouraging other G8 and EU member states to increase their support to national programmes. The
 
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USA has, like us, already earmarked funding. Canada and France see it as a priority issue, while others have yet to follow this line.

The UK is discussing with UNICEF the possibility of hosting the 2005 Global Partners Forum in London in December. This event would present a significant opportunity for G8 and EU members to increase their action in this area.

Responding to the needs of orphans and vulnerable children needs to be part of the larger picture of the AIDS response. By the end of 2005, we want to have agreement among donors and the international system on a well co-ordinated and funded plan to tackle AIDS which will include support for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children.

Iraq

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of money spent on services provided by Adam Smith International Ltd. in connection with the reconstruction of Iraq; what additional contracts they have secured since September 2004; what expenditure his Department has allocated to the organisation for future spending; and if he will make a statement. [210499]

Hilary Benn: Adam Smith International Ltd. won an open competition to implement the Emergency Public Administration Programme in Iraq. A Review was recently conducted on progress of the project. The review concluded that, despite the difficult security environment, Adam Smith International Ltd. has been effective in helping the Iraqi Interim Government set up structures at the centre of Government and in supporting Public Financial Management.

Adam Smith International Ltd. has secured no additional contracts in Iraq since September 2004.

No additional funds have been allocated for future spending specifically with Adam Smith International Ltd. Any future business will be subject to the European Union Directives. These ensure contracts are awarded through transparently fair and open processes.

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate has been made of the amount of wheat required to feed the Iraqi population in a year; how much wheat it is estimated was produced within Iraq in each of the last five years; how much wheat it is estimated has been imported into Iraq in each of the last five years; at what estimated cost; what the price of wheat on the Iraqi market is; and if he will make a statement. [210661]

Hilary Benn: Based on current consumption patterns, the amount of wheat required to feed the Iraqi population annually is around 5 million metric tonnes (MT). Actual demand over the medium term will depend on food consumption preferences, the relative prices of substitutes for and complements to wheat-based products, and other factors such as population growth.
 
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Domestic wheat production over the last five years was as follows:

	Million metric tonne
2004	2.2
2003	2.0
2002	1.8
2001	0.7
2000	0.5

Average annual wheat production over the 10 years before 2003 was around 1.1 million MT.

Imports of wheat into Iraq over the last five years, and their estimated market costs (in 2004 prices) were as follows:

	Million metric tonne	US$ million
2004	3.3	768
2003	1.8	419
2002	1.6	368
2001	2.8	652
2000	3.2	745

The price of wheat in the Iraqi market is estimated to be about 120 Iraqi Dinars (c. 8 US cents) per kilo for domestically grown wheat, and about 340 Iraqi Dinars (c. 23 US cents) for imported wheat. This differential reflects Iraqi consumers' preference for imported over domestically produced wheat.

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment he has made of the provision of (a) water, (b) hospital care and (c) schools for residents who have returned to Fallujah; and what assessment he has made of educational provision for the children of residents who have not returned; [210935]

(2) what assessment he has made of the number of internally displaced persons from Fallujah who are planning to settle out of Fallujah for an extended period; [210936]

(3) what assessment he has made of the number of homes in Fallujah which (a) sustained damage and (b) sustained damage such as to render them unfit for habitation since the commencement of military operations against insurgents in November 2004. [210937]

Hilary Benn: The Interim Iraqi Government (IIG), with support from Multi-National Forces (MNF), has ensured that adequate supplies of food, water, shelter, fuel and health care are available to meet the essential needs of residents returning to Fallujah. Repairs to the water network have begun, and piped water is now available in a number of districts. In other districts, supplies are provided by tanker. Two hospitals and several health clinics are open in Fallujah to provide medical care. Preparations are being made to re-open schools in Fallujah, with five due to be opened by early February. 125 schools in the areas around Fallujah have re-opened to help cater for the children of residents and displaced people who are living there.

No assessment has been made of the number of people displaced from Fallujah who are planning to settle elsewhere for an extended period.
 
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The IIG is planning to undertake a detailed assessment of damage to housing in Fallujah shortly. Preliminary estimates suggest that up to half the buildings in the city may have sustained substantial damage, with many of these rendered unfit for habitation, and that over 75 per cent. suffered some damage.

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received from UK non-governmental organisations relating to the state of the infrastructure in Fallujah; and if he will make a statement. [211052]

Hilary Benn: I have not received any such representations; however DFID staff have briefed Amman-based NGOs on the situation in Fallujah.

Millennium Development Goals

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the percentage of the total UK (a) bilateral aid budget and (b) multilateral aid budget that is available on the ground for Millennium Development Goal projects. [210198]

Hilary Benn: All DFID's development assistance is directed towards achieving the MDGs. Table 20 of the 2004 edition of DFID's annual volume Statistics in International Development" (SID) shows the allocation of bilateral funds to individual MDGs for 2003–04. Funds can be legitimately scored against more than one MDG—for example, HIV/AIDS and maternal mortality. A copy of this report is available in the House of Commons Library and on line at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/sid2004/sid2004.asp.

DFID is working closely with multilateral organisations to ensure that they too prioritise MDG delivery, and that DFID provided funds are used effectively to deliver results on the ground.

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