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1 Dec 2005 : Column 691W—continued
Mosquito Nets (Africa)
Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid his Department is providing to assist in the purchase of mosquito nets in Africa; and if he will list the aid provided to each country for this purpose. [26142]
Hilary Benn:
DFID provides considerable amounts of aid to Africa as non-earmarked Poverty Reduction Budgetary Support (PRBS) or sector support.
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Consequently, it is not possible to provide a precise figure for the amount of aid DFID has provided towards specific programme components such as mosquito nets.
In addition, DFID supports a number of specific programmes which distribute insecticide treated mosquito nets as part of countries' comprehensive malaria control plans. In Tanzania, for example, DFID provided £8.4 million between 2003 and 2004 and has committed a further £10.3 million up until 2007 for delivery of insecticide treated nets.
DFID also channels funds through multilateral bodies such as the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) and UNICEF. In July 2005, DFID announced a doubling of its contribution to GFATM to £200 million for 2006–07, bringing our total pledge to the GFATM to £359 million through to 2008. DFID's contribution to the Global Fund is not earmarked, but so far around one third of GFATM funds have been spent on malaria interventions including mosquito nets.
Uganda
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in northern Uganda; and if he will make a statement. [33187]
Hilary Benn: The humanitarian situation in northern Uganda is extremely serious. 1.4 million people are living in camps for internally displaced people as a result of the conflict involving the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Those displaced are dependent on food aid and other humanitarian assistance. Mortality rates in the camps are high. 63 per cent. of the population in the North live below the poverty line, compared to 38 per cent. in Uganda as a whole. Although the conflict is characterised by low levels of engagement, there is a constant threat of child abduction and people live in fear of their lives.
In our discussions with the Government of Uganda, the UK emphasises the importance of adequate protection for civilians in the North and meeting humanitarian needs. We are providing substantial assistance to help address the humanitarian situation. In 2004–05 we made available £11 million to improve access to food and essential social services. So far in 2005–06, we have already committed £3 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) and are currently conducting a further assessment of need with the intention of providing additional resources to WFP and other humanitarian agencies in the next few months. As a result of recent LRA attacks, many humanitarian agencies have been forced to curtail their movement outside major towns. The WFP, however, continues to deliver essential emergency food aid as normal under heavy military escort.
United States Hurricane
Mike Penning:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost was of the ration packs delivered as hurricane disaster relief and impounded by US authorities; what the cost was of their delivery; what steps are being taken to retrieve them; from which Government reserves they came; what
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discussions he has had with logistical staff from the Ministry of Defence on the impact of the despatch on army supplies; and if he will make a statement. [33741]
Hilary Benn: The ration packs were supplied by the Ministry of Defence and DFID had no direct involvement in the arrangements. The provision of these supplies does not impact on future humanitarian responses and therefore there has not been a need for DFID to discuss their impact on army supplies with the Ministry of Defence.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Adoption
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children were placed for adoption in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990, broken down by age. [33073]
Mr. Woodward: Information on how many children were placed for adoption in Northern Ireland is not available centrally.
Adult Illiteracy
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used to assess illiteracy in adults in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [33082]
Mr. Hanson: In the absence of my hon. Friend, the Member for Basildon (Angela E. Smith), I have been asked to reply.
Research to date has focused on measuring levels of literacy and at present no data is available which specifically identifies the levels of illiteracy.
The International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS,) which was carried out in 1996, indicated that 24 per cent. of the adult population in Northern Ireland performed at the lowest levels of literacy, level 1. It defines literacy as,
'using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one's goals and to develop one's knowledge and potential'.
Since the launch of the Essential Skills for Living Strategy in October 2002, the Department has met, and exceeded, its interim target to support 25,000 adults to improve their levels of literacy and numeracy.
All-Ireland Free Travel Scheme
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when discussions will be concluded between the Department of Regional Development in Northern Ireland and the Department of Social and Family Affairs in the Republic of Ireland on the technical details of the all-Ireland free travel scheme; when the implementation and introduction of the scheme will be announced; and when the new scheme will start. [33538]
Mr. Woodward:
DRD officials are still considering with their Republic of Ireland counterparts the operational and resource issues related to extension of
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all-Ireland free travel for pensioners. I am not yet able to say when it will be completed or when a scheme could be implemented.
Bankruptcies
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State forNorthern Ireland how many bankruptcies there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [32232]
Mr. Hanson: In the absence of my hon. Friend, the Member for Basildon (Angela E. Smith), I have been asked to reply.
The following table shows the number of bankruptcies in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 financial years.
| Year ending 31March | Number of bankruptcies |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 408 |
| 1997 | 371 |
| 1998 | 417 |
| 1999 | 405 |
| 2000 | 395 |
| 2001 | 331 |
| 2002 | 280 |
| 2003 | 350 |
| 2004(7) | 582 |
| 2005(7) | 685 |
| Total | 4,224 |
(7)The increase in the figures for years ending 31 March 2004 and 31 March 2005 are due mainly to an increase in the numbers of consumer (non-trader) bankruptcies which has been brought about by a rise in credit card debt and increased personal lending.
Blue Badge Thefts
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of the theft of disabled persons' blue badges have been reported in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [33080]
Mr. Woodward: The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. Peter Robinson, dated 1 December 2005:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how many incidents of theft of disabled persons' blue badges have been reported in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
I must advise that Roads Service holds records in respect of blue badge applications for a 3 year period. As Roads Service receives approximately 2000 applications per month, the specific information you requested is not readily available and could only be compiled for the last 3 years at disproportionate costs.
However, to try to be of some assistance we have compiled information for the period January to October 2005, and can advise that during this period Roads Service received 88 applications for replacement blue badges where badge holders have stated theft was involved. This represents around 3% of the applications over the same period. Of these 29 were purely the theft of a blue badge and in 59 cases the blue badge was lost/stolen as part of an associated theft e.g. stolen handbag or stolen car.
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