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John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in that capacity in recent months. [55352]
Mr. Thomas: Following the establishment of the Energy and Environment (Sustainable Development) Sub-Committee, Green" Ministers are now referred to as Sustainable Development Ministers. Sustainable Development Ministers have responsibility for sustainable development policy and operations. In this role, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has undertaken a number of activities in recent months including:
Meeting with the Development-Environment Group of NGOs to launch the Policy Paper: DFID's Approach to the Environment and to discuss DFID's planned new White Paper
Meeting with Minister Elliot Morley in his capacity as Chair of the Energy and Environment (Sustainable Development) Committee to discuss DFID's progress in implementing the UK Sustainable Development Strategy, DFID/DEFRA collaboration on international environment and sustainable development processes, the UK Natural Resources Plan, UN Reform and International Environmental Governance and logging.
Acceptance of the findings of the Fourth Annual Sustainable Development in Government Report (SDIG 2005)
Agreement to meet with the Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission to further discuss the Sustainable Development in Government Report 2005 findings and areas for improvement.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research of the impact of varietal genetic use restriction technologies on ecology, socio-economic factors and culture was assessed during the drafting of Growth and Poverty reduction: the role of agriculture; and if he will place copies of that research in the Library. [55282]
Mr. Thomas: DFID's Agriculture Policy Paper, 'Growth and poverty reduction: the role of agriculture', makes no reference to genetic use restriction technologies (GURTs). DFID's view, expressed in this paper, is that a wide range of agricultural technologies will be needed to tackle poverty and hunger, from traditional knowledge to sophisticated plant breeding. DFID puts priority on improving poor farmers' access to technology, to enable them to make their own choices matched to need.
This approach was informed by, amongst other sources, a background review paper, Technology and its contribution to pro-poor agricultural development', which has been in the public domain since mid 2004 and can be found at http://dfid-agriculture-consultation. nri.org. I have arranged for copies of the document
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entitled 'Technology and it's contribution to Pro-Poor Agricultural Development' be placed in the Libraries of the House.
DFID's Agriculture policy paper does, however, recognise that there are both potential benefits and risks associated with gene technologies and GM crops, and argues that developing countries should be able to make their own informed choices. To this end, DFID has worked with the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), other government departments and the international community to establish the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
As a party to the CBD, the UK Government agreed in 2000 to take a precautionary approach to the use of GURTs while research into the possible impacts of these technologies was carried out. It is expected that at the CBD meeting on 1931 March this year, signatories to the convention will consider emerging research on the impacts of GURTs, including a progress report by the Convention's scientific sub-group. The UK Government have considered this research and do not propose to change their position on a precautionary approach to the use of GURTs. Parties to the CBD will also address capacity building for decision making in developing countries.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department to assist women and childrenwho have been victims of sexual exploitation in India. [58807]
Mr. Thomas: DFID India recognises that existing gender relations contribute to sexual exploitation in India. DFID India supports Government, and engages with various partners and agencies, to address these issues and broader questions of social exclusion including gender inequality.
DFID India's £75 million strategic partnership with UNICEF, announced on 13 March 2006, will include activities aimed at addressing social exclusion and securing child rights. DFID India's Poorest Areas Civil Society Programme supports Save the Children, India, which has a programme aimed at combating trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children in Maharashtra. DFID India is also working with partners to help the Government of India formulate prevention strategies to address the issue of female foeticide. Finally, DFID India's dialogue with Oxfam focuses on addressing violence against women.
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many international humanitarian organisations are operating in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan; and how many personnel are employed by such organisations in each country. [58719]
Hilary Benn:
A number of major international aid organisations, US Government organisations, and United Nations agencies are providing humanitarian assistance in Iraq.
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Major international non-governmental organisations working in Iraq include the American Friends Services Committee (AFSC), CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Church World Service, Lutheran World Relief, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the Human Rights Watch (HRW), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Oxfam International, the US Committee for Refugees, and World Vision International. There are also over 2,500 local Iraqi non-governmental organisations (NGO)s.
Key United States organisations operating in Iraq include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US Department of Agriculture, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the US Office of Humanitarian Assistance and Mine Action. The following United Nations agencies are also providing humanitarian assistance: the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), the UN Electronic Mine Information Network (UN E-Mine), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Identifying the total number of international humanitarian organisations working in Iraq, and giving their staff numbers, is information that could be gathered only at a disproportionate cost.
Since the law on non-governmental organisations working in Afghanistan was passed by the Afghan Government in June 2005, a total of 189 international non-governmental organisations have registered with the Afghan Government. Identifying which of these organisations are doing humanitarian rather than other work and giving their staff numbers is information that could be gathered only at a disproportionate cost.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken by his Department to promote and support good governance in Latin America. [52200]
Mr. Thomas: Governance is central to DFID's engagement in Latin America. Our focus on poverty and exclusion means that we are committed to embedding principles of transparency, accountability, representation and democratic development in Latin America. DFID promotes good governance through various channels: directly with Latin American Governments, through the International Finance Institutions, via support to Civil Society organisations and through global initiatives.
During 200506, DFID supported governance initiatives through its Latin America regional programmes and through bilateral programmes in Nicaragua, Brazil and Bolivia. A new programme was established with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank (WB) to take forward work on governance in Latin Americathe Accountable and Responsive Public Sector Management and Political Systems Programme (£7.5 million over four years). This programme aims to enhance the impact of the IDB and WB on the ability of poor people to shape, participate in and benefit from more accountable and responsive
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public sectors and political systems. The programme will support governance reform agendas in the World Bank and IDB. DFID supports the work of civil society on governance and other areas through Partnership Programme Agreements with six international NGOs and through the Civil Society Challenge Fund. We work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on the Global Conflict Prevention Pool for Latin America.
Recent work supported by DFID on governance in Latin America includes:
Financial Accountability and Transparency work in Nicaragua with the National Comptroller's Office and the audit of municipal accounts to improve transparency and citizen monitoring. In Brazil, our work has promoted Public Audit as a tool of citizen participation. In Central America, we are working with other donors on a Programme of Fiscal Reform. In Peru, we contribute to implementing greater transparency in respect of extractive industries resulting from the signing in 2005 of the EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) Agreement by Peru.
Strengthening political institutions and processes has included support to the Central America Political Parties Initiative; strengthening the ability of citizens to voice their demands to Government through work with civil society groups in a number of countries; and work with the EC seeking to reinforce law and democracy in Colombia. With the IDB and WB, we contribute to the development and use of analytical tools that will improve understanding of the political context and incentive structures within countries, including through Governance Reviews in the Andes Region. Work on the politics of the budget process in Latin America is ongoing.
Conflict and Human Rights work has included Police Human Rights Training in Venezuela and support to a national centre in Peru to professionalise the management and reduction of conflict.
Strengthening demand for good governance through voice and accountability, includes support to civil society organisations to improve oversight of Highly Indebted Poor Countries funds and work in the Andean Region for poor and excluded people to get state identity cards (Right to Identity). An identity card allows a person to be officially recognised by the state and enables then to vote and access education and health services.
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