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20 Jul 2005 : Column 1854W—continued
Malawi
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK Government aid has been allocated to the treatment of (a) HIV/AIDS, (b) tuberculosis and (c) malaria in Malawi in each of the last two years. [8638]
Hilary Benn: The Malawi National AIDS Strategy and the National AIDS Commission (NAC) are the foundation for DFID's support to HIV and AIDS. £3.5 million is allocated to support the national response for HIV and AIDS through pooled funding with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Norwegian Embassy and the World Bank to the NAC. The NAC is fully funded, by donors as well as Government of Malawi. There is no shortfall at the moment. Currently DFID has disbursed approximately £1 million towards this program. The following are the disbursement details:
| Financial year | Disbursed amount (£) |
|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 500,000 |
| 2005–06 | 400,000 |
| Total | 900,000 |
More support is also channelled through the Ministry of Health through the Sexual Reproductive Health programme. It is however difficult to disaggregate HIV spend. Expenditure for the programme has been as follows:
| Financial year | Disbursed amount (£) |
|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 5,871,583 |
| 2004–05 | 5,958,780 |
| Total | 11,830,363 |
DFID also supports the Banja La Mtsogolo Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme (BLM) to promote safer sexual and reproductive health practices by Malawians including increased use of high quality, accessible sexual reproductive health services which complement government services. Expenditure for the past two areas including technical assistance is as follows:
| Financial year | Disbursed amount (£) |
|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 977,759 |
| 2004–05 | 1,395,854 |
| Total | 2,373,604 |
DFID provides support to the Malawi National TB Control Programme. The purpose of the National TB Control Programme is to improve on an equitable basis, case detection, and quality of diagnosis and TB treatment outcomes. DFID's expenditure for past two years is as follows:
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| Financial year | Disbursed amount (£) |
|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 779,024 |
| 2004–05 | 752,560 |
| Total | 1,531,584 |
DFID has been providing its support through UNICEF Malawi to assist the Ministry of Health in building the capacity of the Malaria National Control Programme, to be able to reduce the morbidity and mortality of children under 5 and women of childbearing age from malaria. The funds covered a wide range at central and district levels and included commodities (such as Insecticide Treated Bed nets, pre-treatment kits, and the drug Fansidar), social marketing, monitoring and supervision.
DFID's expenditure for past two years is as follows:
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| Financial year | Disbursed amount (£) |
|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 3,792,678 |
| 2004–05 | 2,505,083 |
| Total | 6,297,761 |
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list non-governmental organisations in Malawi that seek to reduce poverty to which his Department has allocated funding in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [11689]
Hilary Benn: DFID financed both directly and indirectly approximately 100 non-governmental organisations in Malawi over the course of the last three years. The following table lists those non-governmental organisation financed directly from DFID.
(59) DFID managed Dutch funds are shown in brackets.
DFID Malawi has also supported non-governmental organisations in Malawi indirectly through its support to the National Aids Commission, through the Tikambirane governance programme (managed by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and British High Commission (BHC)) and the National Sexual and Reproductive Health programme with Government of Malawi where responsibility for the direct engagement with civil society is held by our partners. In these instances it is difficult to itemise DFID's share of financing to each non-governmental organisation given the nature of the funding mechanisms used. DFID South Africa also supports non-governmental organisations in Malawi indirectly through the following regional programmes: the Soul City Regional Programme; the Roll Back Malaria Programme; and the Regional Hunger and Vulnerability Programme.
DFID Malawi works in partnership with non-governmental organisations operating in Malawi in order to help promote the outcomes of the Government of Malawi's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. To this
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end, DFID also works to strengthen civil society's capacity to work with government at the policy level through country, regional and centrally funded initiatives.
Millennium Development Goals
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit at Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goal to reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13083]
(2) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit at Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goal to reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13084]
(3) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit atGleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goal target to make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications technologies, in co-operation with the private sector, is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13165]
(4) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13090]
(5) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers is reached by 2020; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13091]
(6) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to develop further an open trading and financial system that is rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory and includes a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction nationally and internationally is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13092]
(7) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to address the least developed countries special needs is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13093]
(8) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to address the special needs of landlocked and small island developing states is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13094]
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(9) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to develop decent and productive work for youth in cooperation with the developing countries is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit. [13096]
Hilary Benn: At the G8 summit at Gleneagles, G8 Heads agreed a package of comprehensive support to help accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in Africa which is falling behind. In advance of the summit, the United Nations published a comprehensive review of prospects for achieving the MDGs called 'Investing in Development', which informed UK policy.
This package of support includes substantial additional resources: an extra US$50 billion globally and US$25 billion for Africa by 2010. In addition, the G8 agreed debt cancellation worth up to US$40 billion for 18 of the poorest countries and up to $55 billion for 38 countries in total.
On trade, the G8 Heads expressed political commitment to an ambitious outcome at the Doha ministerial in Hong Kong and committed to provide increased assistance for building the capacity to trade. The additional resources will be targeted where they can make the most difference: on low-income countries that are committed to growth and poverty reduction, to a democratic, accountable and transparent government and to sound public financial management, while recognising that aid is important to respond to humanitarian crises and countries affected by or at risk of conflict.
Achieving the MDGs to reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day and those who suffer from hunger will depend on progress in a range of different areas. This is why G8 Heads emphasised the importance of coordinated and coherent action.
The Evian G8 water action plan commits G8 member countries to playing a more active role in the international efforts towards achieving the water and sanitation Millennium Development Goals. At Gleneagles, G8 Heads agreed to increase aid to the sector, while maintaining political momentum and commitment on the water issue and reinforcing coordination and monitoring mechanisms. The UK recently announced it was doubling, over the next three years, its funding for improvements in water and sanitation in Africa.
G8 Heads agreed a range of measures aimed at boosting growth and attracting new investment, contributing to building Africa's capacity to trade and improving the lives of slum dwellers. Work will continue on building an infrastructure consortium for Africa, involving the African Union (AU), the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the EU. The sectors to be covered by this major new effort are water and sanitation, energy, transport, telecommunications and urban infrastructure.
Work will continue to support investment, enterprise development and innovation, for example, through support to the AU/NEPAD investment climate facility.
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International financial institutions and African Governments are encouraged to increase access to financial services for poor people through increased partnerships between commercial banks and micro-finance institutions.
In recognition of the particular problems faced by least developed countries (LDC)s, the G8 committed to provide them with additional support for trade capacity building. They also agreed to work for appropriate flexibility in the Doha development agenda (DDA) trade negotiations to help LDCs to decide, plan and sequence their economic reforms in line with their country-led development programmes and their international obligations. Moreover, they reiterated their commitment to duty and quota for free market access for LDC products, and the importance of addressing products of interest to LDCs as part of the single undertaking of the DDA.
The G8 summit did not reach any specific agreements regarding landlocked and small island development states, although other measures agreed there will benefit these countries, including additional development resources and progress on climate change and trade.
G8 leaders committed to support youth employment in Africa for both men and women, including vocational education and training relevant to market demands.
To help develop skilled professionals for Africa's private and public sectors, the G8 Heads agreed to support networks of excellence between African and other countries' institutions of higher education and centres of excellence in science and technology.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit at Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goal target to reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five years is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13086]
(2) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13087]
(3) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13088]
(4) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to halt and begin to reverse the increase in the incidence of malaria and other major diseases is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit; [13089]
(5) what agreements were reached at the G8 summit at Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries in co-operation with
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pharmaceutical companies is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit. [13097]
Hilary Benn: At the G8 summit at Gleneagles, G8 Heads agreed a package of comprehensive support to help accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in Africa which is falling behind. In advance of the summit, the United Nations published a comprehensive review of prospects for achieving the MDGs called 'Investing in Development', which informed UK policy.
G8 Heads agreed several specific measures to tackle the health and HIV/AIDS related MDGs. They undertook to support African Governments' commitment to ensure access to basic health care for all (free wherever countries choose to provide this) to reduce mortality among those most at risk of dying from preventable causes, particularly women and children. This includes a commitment to invest in improved health systems, which are critical for progress across the board.
On malaria, the G8 committed to work with African countries to scale up action to reach 85 per cent. of the vulnerable populations with the interventions that will save 600,000 children's lives a year by 2015. These include ensuring access to anti-malaria insecticide-treated mosquito nets, adequate and sustainable supplies of Combination Therapies including Artemisin, presumptive treatment for pregnant women and babies, household residual spraying and the capacity in African health services to effectively use them.
The G8 Heads committed to the aims of an AIDS-free generation, significantly reducing HIV infections, aiming as close as possible to universal access to treatment for all who need it by 2010 and ensuring proper support for all children left orphaned or vulnerable by AIDS. They committed to increase resources to tackle AIDS, including through replenishing the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria (GFATM). They also undertook to work with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and other international bodies to develop and implement a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care, and to improve coordination through implementing the 'Three Ones' principles.
To encourage the development of vaccines, microbicides and drugs for AIDS, TB, malaria and other neglected diseases, the G8 leaders committed to increase direct investment and take forward market incentives, through mechanisms such as Public Private Partnerships and Advance Purchase Commitments. We also re-affirmed our commitments made at the G8 summit at Evian, agreeing to improve access to affordable medicines by encouraging differential pricing of drugs by originator companies and by supporting the appropriate use of flexibilities in agreements on intellectual property rights where necessary.
Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to deal
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comprehensively with developing countries' debt problems through national and international measures to make debt sustainable in the long-term is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit. [13095]
Hilary Benn: G8 Finance Ministers met on 11 June and re-affirmed their commitment to the full implementation and financing of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. They also agreed a new proposal to cancel the debt stock of qualifying HIPCs to the International Development Association of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Fund of the African Development Bank. In addition, they agreed the need to find a solution to Nigeria's debts. G8 leaders re-affirmed their support for these agreements when they met at Gleneagles, and welcomed the Paris club's agreement on 29 June which will result in the elimination all of Nigeria's $29 billion bilateral debt to Paris club creditors.
The UK is committed to broad and generous debt relief for poor countries in order to make debt sustainable in the long-term and to free up resources for their achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We continue to lobby others in support for this objective. Progress towards the Millennium Development Goals varies, but Sub Saharan Africa in particular will not meet any of the goals by 2015 if current rates of progress continue. We believe that debt relief, including the G8's new proposal, will help countries to make the investments in health, education and infrastructure, that are needed to reach the Millennium Development Goals.
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