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Palestinian Territories

12. Mr. Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the Department is providing to encourage economic growth in the Palestinian territories. [220748]

Hilary Benn: In order to create an internal environment more attractive to private investors the UK is working closely with international partners to provide support to invigorate the Palestinian Authority's (PA) programmes of governance reforms. Specific UK assistance includes support for the PA's budget, a wide-ranging programme of public administration and civil service reform, and support for the civil police. But these developments, in order to be effective, must go hand in hand with the Government of Israel easing the restrictions on the movement of Palestinian people and goods.

Fairtrade

13. David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote Fairtrade awareness. [220749]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK Government has been a major supporter of Fairtrade. Fairtrade sales in the UK are growing each year, reaching £140 million in 2004. By buying Fairtrade products such as coffee, tea, fruit and chocolate shoppers are helping farmers and other producers to earn a decent living and obtain good healthcare and education. Between 2002 and 2005 DFID gave £300,000 to the Fairtrade Foundation to help develop its product range. DFID have just announced a further £750,000 over three years. DFID also gives £164,000 to the Foundation through its Development Awareness programme to raise awareness in the UK of Fairtrade.

Zimbabwe

14. Mr. Mackay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on aid to Zimbabwe. [220750]

Hilary Benn: In view of the poor governance in Zimbabwe and the intransigence of her Government towards constructive dialogue with the international community, most donors, including the UK, have suspended conventional development programmes and now focus on humanitarian and HIV/AIDS programmes. In 2003–04 DFID spent £34 million on such programmes and expect to spend £25 million in the current financial year. The main areas of our support include HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and mitigation and direct support to some 1.5 million of the poorest households in the country, in the form of food,
 
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seeds and fertilisers. Funds are channelled through NGOs and United Nations agencies, not through the Government of Zimbabwe.

Vaccinations (Developing World)

15. Mr. McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's work with others to promote vaccination in the developing world. [220751]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID works with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) and the Vaccine Fund, and has contributed £35 million. DFID provides support to UNICEF and WHO contributing £64 million and £50.2 million respectively in 2003–04. We promote immunisation to the poorest through direct support to country health programmes.

UK is working alongside the French and Swedish Governments to raise $4 billion through an International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) and is seeking support of other OECD Governments. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State pledged $1.8 billion over 15 years to the IFFIm. DFID works with research and development organisations (such as the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI)) to promote new vaccines.

Afghanistan

Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has funded (a) alternative employment for workers in the poppy industry and (b) the purchase of poppy crops in Afghanistan since 1997. [220783]

Hilary Benn: As a counterbalance to the elimination of the illicit opium economy in Afghanistan, opportunities to pursue alternative licit livelihoods for existing and potential poppy growers must be developed. DFID works through the National Priority Programmes of the Afghan Government and with a range of NGOs to provide both agricultural and non-agricultural inputs and technical support to give farmers alternative livelihood opportunities in poor rural areas.

DFID funds targeted alternative livelihood programmes in Badakhshan and Eastern Hazarajat. In Badakhshan, DFID is also funding a Cash for Work" programme in order to generate increased minimum wage employment through labour-intensive public works. This is designed to provide up to 500,000 person days of employment for those previously generating income from growing poppy crops. We are in discussion with the Government of Afghanistan and others to identify opportunities to provide similar support in other key poppy growing provinces.

DFID has not, as part of its programme, purchased any poppy crops in Afghanistan.

Avian Influenza

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to which countries he is giving resources devoted to the prevention of avian influenza. [220881]

 
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Hilary Benn: As part of a DFID/World Bank funded programme, the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) is providing technical support to the Chinese authorities on a range of health risks including avian flu.

No specific support to deal with avian flu is being provided to countries in South East Asia. DFID is in close contact with the World Health Organisation in affected countries and country offices are considering specific support for expanded public education and surveillance activities on a country-by-country basis. To date, only Cambodia has submitted a request for DFID support and this is under consideration.

DFID officials are to meet staff of the HPA next week to discuss potential gaps in the international response.

Guyana

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a further statement on UK assistance to Guyana following the floods on 26 December 2004, with specific regard to (a) food relief, (b) replacing accommodation and (c) restarting public services. [220699]

Mr. Gareth Thomas [holding answer 8 March 2005]: As reported in my statement of 10 February 2005, DFID has provided £287,000 to the immediate flood response in Guyana. Since that statement we have provided an additional £30,000 in materials. Through the UK's contribution to the European Commission (EC), we have provided £185,000 out of the €1.7 million provided by the EC as immediate relief.

The UK has tried to ensure that our support goes to areas not otherwise covered by other members of the international community. The World Food Programme and the Red Cross met immediate food needs, and were funded by others from the international community.

The UN, through the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), is currently undertaking an assessment of the impact of the floods on Guyana's economy and on people's livelihoods. These assessments have been tried and tested in many regional disasters. The assessment will indicate longer term food security needs, as well as reconstruction needs. To date there has not been an identified need to replace accommodation. The priority has been to clean flood affected accommodation, as well as schools and health centres, to make all such places useable again. The Government's cleaning programme is being supported by the UN.

Some schools are still unable to operate as normal. Those affected were used as shelters for displaced people, and they are currently waiting to be reached by the Government cleaning programme. Of the public utilities only the provision of piped water was affected. Pumping stations and distribution networks were severely affected in many areas. This service is now getting back to normal. The management improvements at Guyana Water Incorporated" provided through the water reform programme ensured an effective response to the flood situation. This programme was funded by DFID and others to improve the supply of potable water. There are sufficient resources in place, and sufficient capacity, to undertake the necessary ongoing
 
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repairs. Oxfam have been working very closely with the water utility to ensure the supply of potable water during and after the crisis.

The Guyanese Drainage and Irrigation Board, supported by UN sourced experts, have identified a set of emergency works to be undertaken on the water management system damaged by the floods. This work is urgent as there are fears that this system was compromised by the floods, and might fail in the main May/June rains. DFID are now in the process of finalising assistance to support implementation of these emergency restoration works. In conjunction with United Nations Development Programme we are funding the cost of a Dutch expert to assist the Government of Guyana in overseeing the emergency rehabilitation of the water management system.

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