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29 Oct 2007 : Column 735W—continued
Departments: Written Questions
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what percentage of questions tabled to his Department for answer on a named day received a substantive reply on the day named in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [161350]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: In the period from September 2006 to September 2007, a total of 226 named day parliamentary questions were tabled to the Department for International Development, of which 204 received a substantive reply on the day named (90 per cent).
Export Credit Guarantees
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what advice his Department has provided to the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) on the impact of the businesses supported by ECGD on achieving the Millennium Development Goals. [161239]
Mr. Thomas: Export Credits Guarantee Department’s (ECGD) support for UK exporters to do business in the poorest countries is subject to the Government’s productive expenditure guidelines. DFID provides advice to HM Treasury on each proposal on whether it is likely to make a positive contribution to the country’s economic and social development, whether it is consistent with national development plans and whether it is consistent with the Government’s objectives on ensuring countries do not take on too much debt. ECGD, DFID and HM Treasury are working together to secure an OECD agreement that will ensure a common approach to responsible support for business with the poorest countries.
Overseas Aid: Environment Protection
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by what means the effectiveness of the environmental transformation fund will be measured. [159556]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The environment transformation fund (ETF) has an £800 million international window to be shared equally between DFID and DEFRA, and a domestic window of £370 million shared between DEFRA and DBERR. The international window will support development and poverty reduction through environmental protection, and help poor countries respond to climate change.
HMG will consult widely in developing the detailed objectives and delivery plan for the use of the £800 million allocated to the international window. This will include proposals on how to monitor impact and performance of the fund. The international ETF will be operational from April 2008.
A key focus of the international ETF should be on the development impact of climate change, through mitigation and adaptation. £50 million has already been earmarked for tackling deforestation in the Congo Basin.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much he has allocated to overseas conservation organisations aimed at improving the use of natural resources and protecting endangered species in developing countries, with particular reference to primates. [159679]
Mr. Thomas: DFID’s priority, as expressed in the International Development Act, is the reduction of poverty. Any DFID engagement in overseas conservation must therefore deliver direct and tangible benefits to the poor.
DFID contributions relevant to overseas conservation and development are channelled through a range of mechanisms. DFID contributes £15.4 million per year to biodiversity conservation through the Global Environment Facility (GEF), WWF-UK and the Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP). The UK is one of the largest contributors to the GEF, and DFID provides the largest share of the OTEP across HMG. Our research programmes, notably the Ecosystem Services and Poverty Reduction (£30 million over five years) and our contribution to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research institutions (£10 million/year) will also deliver important collateral benefits to conservation. Our contribution to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (£6 million/four years), our work on advising the UN Convention on Biological Diversity on forest and fisheries governance, and the incorporation of environmental issues into national development programmes, will also benefit conservation.
This year the UK also announced the three year £800 million Environmental Transformation Fund to support sustainable development and poverty reduction through environmental protection and help developing countries respond to climate change.
Palestinians: International Assistance
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2007, Official Report, column 138W, on Palestinians: international assistance, what progress has been made by the EU towards urgently developing the conditions for direct practical and financial assistance to the Palestinian Emergency Government; and what the UK role has been in this regard. [157530]
Mr. Malik: The UK, European Commission (EC) and other EU donors are already providing financial and practical assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA). On 24 July, the EC announced $123 million (£62 million) of extra funding for 2007. EU donors Sweden and France have committed direct budgetary support. The UK is helping the PA to prepare a reform and development plan and improve financial management systems, as a basis for more significant medium-term donor support. On 17 July, DFID also announced £3 million to help the PA pay off debts to the private sector.
Sudan: Politics and Government
Mr. MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [161142]
Mr. Thomas: The humanitarian situation in Darfur is deteriorating. The seasonal ‘hunger gap’ has been more acute this year with higher than expected rates of malnutrition, particularly in the camps. Furthermore, ongoing clashes have meant that the number of people displaced continues to rise: a further 260,000 people this year alone, adding to the more than two million people already living in camps across the region. The camps are overstretched and becoming increasingly volatile. Recent violence in Kalma camp, South Darfur, has re-displaced up to 30,000 people.
The increase in needs has been compounded by an escalation of attacks by armed groups against humanitarian agencies. Since the start of the year, over 100 humanitarian vehicles have been hijacked, often violently, and five humanitarian aid workers have been killed. This is having a serious impact on the ability of humanitarian agencies to deliver vital aid to those in need.
The UK is prominent in urging all sides to immediately cease hostilities, attend the proposed peace talks in Libya and respect the neutrality of humanitarian workers.
Zimbabwe: Sanitary Protection
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to address the lack of access to basic sanitary protection for women in Zimbabwe. [161562]
Mr. Thomas:
DFID provides up to £40 million per year to assist Zimbabweans in need. The problem of sanitary provision in Zimbabwe is part of a wider
economic and governance crisis which has led to an acute shortage of basic and essential goods.
During this crisis, DFID is providing substantial direct assistance to protect livelihoods, tackle HIV/AIDS, and help meet the humanitarian needs of more than 1.5 million poor people in Zimbabwe. Some of our NGO partners are providing sanitary products to girls and young women as part of a £22 million programme in support of orphans and vulnerable children. DFID-supported programmes also provide cash to poor people to help meet basic needs such as food, education and health—including sanitary provision.
Work and Pensions
Armed Forces: Multiple Sclerosis
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many service personnel were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and discharged under the old war pension scheme (AFCS75) (a) with and (b) without the award of attributable benefits; [159088]
(2) how many service personnel were released other than on medical grounds but have subsequently been awarded war pensions (AFCS75) and attributable benefits because they suffered symptoms of multiple sclerosis whilst serving; [159089]
(3) how many service personnel with multiple sclerosis were discharged under the new scheme (AFCS05) (a) with and (b) without attributable benefits; [159090]
(4) how many service personnel have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis whilst still serving and have been awarded benefits under the AFCS05 scheme. [159091]
Derek Twigg: I have been asked to reply.
Multiple sclerosis is a disorder whose cause is currently unknown. There is no published peer-reviewed scientific or medical evidence to suggest any link with particular occupations including between any factor of service in the armed forces and the development of multiple sclerosis.
Information is not held centrally as to the total number of serving and retired service personnel suffering from multiple sclerosis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Records do however show that there are 380 former service personnel currently in receipt of a war disablement pension under the War Pension Scheme (WPS), with an accepted claim for multiple sclerosis. The records do not identify when these pensioners were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis or whether it was the reason for their discharge.
The WPS provides no-fault compensation for all former service personnel disabled as a result of their service in the armed forces before 6 April 2005. Awards are made under the WPS where, on the individual case facts and under the legislation, a causal link to service can be accepted. The WPS onus and standard of proof mean that causal links may be lawfully recognised which do not reflect contemporary medical evidence. Where a disablement has clinical onset during service and leads to medical discharge, claims are automatically considered. In that situation or where a claim is made
within seven years of service termination, entitlement will be certified unless it can be shown by evidence beyond reasonable doubt that service has played no part in the cause or course of the disorder. In these circumstances claims for multiple sclerosis may succeed on that basis.
Any service personnel who develop multiple sclerosis in service and are medically discharged may be entitled to ill-health benefits under the terms of their occupational pension scheme.
Information is not held centrally which can identify former service personnel released on non-medical grounds, who have subsequently been awarded war pensions for suffering the symptoms of multiple sclerosis while in service. To obtain the information would involve the examination of individual files which could be done only at disproportionate cost—there are currently around 178,000 people in receipt of a war disablement pension.
No service personnel have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and awarded attributable benefits under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. Less than five service personnel have been discharged without benefits. The scheme provides no-fault compensation for all serving and former service personnel for injury/illness caused on or after 6 April 2005. It awards benefits where the evidence shows, on the balance of probabilities, that service is the predominant cause of the injury or disorder.
Cemeteries
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) serious injuries and (b) deaths resulted from unsafe gravestones in each year since 2000. [160305]
Mrs. McGuire [holding answer 25 October 2007]: Reliable data for the period requested are not available. However, the available data show that 21 serious accidents caused by falling gravestones and memorials, were reported to the Health and Safety Executive over the last seven years, including three fatalities.
Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the projected total cost is of establishing the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. [156918]
Mr. Plaskitt: Officials are currently developing plans to establish the Commission. As these plans are still under development cost estimates are subject to change and it is therefore not possible to provide the requested information at this time. We expect to have robust cost estimates by the time the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill receives Royal Assent.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what opportunities existing employees of the Child Support Agency will have to work for its successor body; and if he will make a statement. [161052]
Mr. Plaskitt: The people employed in the Child Support Agency are its biggest asset, and they will be critical in developing the modern, innovative service that needs to be put in place.
All people who carry out functions of the Child Support Agency in Great Britain will move to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, at the same time as the functions are transferred.
People transferring will be given the full protection of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.
Child Support Agency: ICT
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what contracted-out IT projects for the Child Support Agency have been concluded since 1997; how many times the specification for each such project was changed; and what changes in specification were made. [160372]
Mr. Plaskitt [holding answer 25 October 2007]: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Duncan Gilchrist, dated 29 October 2007:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what contracted-out IT projects for the Child Support Agency have been concluded since 1997; how many times the specification for each such project was changed; and what changes in specification were made. (160372)
All contracted out IT projects since 1997 were incorporated into the Child Support Reforms programme and subsequently the Operational Improvement Plan supplied by EDS and BT. Although the CS2 system developed by EDS still had residual defects the Child Support Reforms programme was technically concluded in August 2005 with a £107m downward adjustment to the contracted cost, which was used by the Department to help fund the Operational Improvement Plan. In addition to the contracted scope for the Child Support Reforms programme, the Agency requested 130 detailed changes, plus the development of a management information system.
Following a period of requirements development an outsourced programme to deliver the IT Strand of the Agency’s Operational Improvement Plan was started in November 2006. This programme comprises a number of interconnected projects some of which have been delivered. Completed projects with the Operational Improvement Programme IT Strand are:
CS2 bulk conversion capability
CS2 top priority defect fixes
Support for external debt collection agencies
Clerical database enhancements
Interim telephony enhancements
Interim workflow enhancements
CS2 performance enhancements
Incorporation of the DWP Customer Information System (as a replacement to the Departmental Central Index)
Upgrades to the complaints handling system
The major components of the programme, fundamentally enhanced CS2 and telephony applications to support the Agency’s new business model, are scheduled for delivery by EDS and BT to the Agency in the current financial year. So far there has been one change to the detailed requirements for the CS2 project, which has been absorbed by EDS without any impact on cost. This change involved numerous low level detailed changes to support more efficient running in the operational environment.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Children: Maintenance
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many non-resident parents the Child Support Agency is seeking to collect maintenance from in each London constituency. [159010]
Mr. Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 29 October 2007:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-resident parents the Child Support Agency is seeking to collect maintenance from in each London constituency. [15910]
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