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12 Dec 2005 : Column 1628W—continued
Colombia
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money the UK Government are providing in 2005–06 to (a) the European Commission, (b) the Inter-America Development Bank and (c) the World Bank for projects in Colombia; and if he will list the projects concerned. [32666]
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Mr. Thomas:
Through its contribution of 18 per cent. to the European Commission's (EC) budget, the UK Government provided £5.4 million to Colombia over the three years 2001 to 2003 (the last years for which data is available). The EC supports the search for peace and the targeting of the roots and causes of the conflict. The following four sectors are priorities for EC co-operation with Colombia: social/economic development and poverty reduction; alternative livelihoods for cocoa farmers; public sector administrative and judicial reform; and the support and promotion of human rights. Specific areas of work include: initiatives to promote peace; resettlement of people uprooted by the conflict,
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support to make export sectors more efficient; reinforcement of the state of law and democracy; the protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources; landmines clearance; and science and technology research.
Colombia does not benefit from the concessional lending by the World Bank (WB) and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that is funded by donors such as the UK, given its relatively high income. It does, however, borrow from the WB and IDB on near commercial terms. The UK, therefore, contributes indirectly as a shareholder of these organisations. A table of current projects supported by IDB and WB are as follows.
(9)Judicial.
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Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which British non-governmental organisations in Colombia were given financial assistance by the UK Government in the last two years; and how much each received. [32667]
Mr. Thomas: Three projects are currently funded through DFID's Civil Society Challenge Fund:
War on Want in the promotion of workers and human rights in Southwest Colombia—£213,950 over the period December 2003 to March 2007.
Concern Universal to enable marginalised groups to demand and secure their constitutional rights (including access to clean water, adequate sanitation, access to healthcare and access to education)—£322,000 from April 2005 to March 2009.
Y-Care International, to strengthen the ability of 1,800 marginalised young people and children to contribute to community development and peace promotion—£10,796 in 2005–06.
DFID also approved an additional £7 million a year from 2005 for six international NGOs working in Latin America and the Caribbean. Of the six selected, CAFOD, Christian Aid, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are active in Colombia and will benefit from these additional funds.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently funding two projects by Save the Children in Colombia worth £92,000 over the next two years. These projects aim to tackle child sexual abuse through strengthening local institutions and raising awareness through training of journalists in child rights.
Commission for Africa
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what timetable he has set to deliver the recommendations of the Commission for Africa. [30231]
Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the responseI gave to the hon. Member for South Down (Mr. McGrady) on 28 November 2005, Official Report, columns 54–55W.
Departmental Staff
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East. [31759]
Mr. Thomas: DFID has no plans to relocate staff into London or the South East. Our relocation plans are in keeping with Government policy with 85 posts being relocated to our office in East Kilbride over the periods 2004–05 and 2005–06.
Early Retirement
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's employees have taken early retirement in each year since 1997. [34046]
Mr. Thomas:
The number of DFID employees, who have taken early retirement in each year since 1997, are shown in the table.
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| Number of employees | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 26 |
| 1998 | 6 |
| 1999 | 9 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 24 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | (10)11 |
(10)To date
The figures include those who have retired voluntarilywith an actuarially reduced pension, those who have retired with benefits under the civil service compensation scheme and those who have retired on grounds of ill-health.
Ethiopia
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to take forward the Africa Commission's work on Ethiopia; what account he will take in his plans of (a) the participation of President Meles Zenawi, (b) the killing of demonstrators in Ethiopia by Ethiopian security forces and (c) the detention without charge of demonstrators; what plans he has to promote good governance in Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement. [34519]
Hilary Benn: The Commission for Africa has now completed its work, having successfully produced recommendations on the changes needed to reduce poverty. Prime Minister Meles contributed to the Commission's report, but it is up to individual countries to take these recommendations forward.
UK Ministers, and our ambassador in Ethiopia, have registered our concerns with Prime Minister Meles about the situation in Ethiopia, which resulted in deaths and injuries, and about the issue of detainees. We have urged the Government to launch an investigation into the violence.
As a result of these events the UK, in close co-ordination with other donors, has announced a review of our development programme. We have made it clear that principles of good governance must be central to our future development partnership.
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