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28 Apr 2008 : Column 26W—continued
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on providing support for research into the development and use of genetically modified species variations. [200397]
Mr. Thomas: DFID recognises that the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can have potential significant benefits for farmers in developing countries if applied safely and responsibly. At the same time, an over-riding objective is to safeguard human health and the environment and to give consumers informed choices. Our policy is that DFID will support research involving GMOs as long as international rules, including the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, are followed and it is targeted to help developing countries make their own informed choices about whether to use GM technologies.
HIV Infection: Overseas Aid
Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services; and if he will make a statement. [198684]
Gillian Merron: Progress towards the goal of Universal Access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support will be reviewed by the international community during 2008. Data being prepared for the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on AIDS in June will inform the review process. UNAIDS will use these data to assess progress against the interim Universal Access targets (milestones), set by countries during 2006-07, in the final quarter of 2008.
JP Morgan
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department paid to JP Morgan in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of each payment was. [199613]
Mr. Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) paid JP Morgan a total of £672,784 in 2001 for work completed on the Andhra Pradesh (India) Power Sector Reform project.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 5 March 2008, on economic partnership agreements. [202161]
Mr. Thomas: The reply to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter of 5 March 2008 has been issued.
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Government's grant to the United Nations Development Trust Fund to support the work of Quartet Representative Tony Blair is included as part of the Government's Official Development Assistance budget; and if he will make a statement. [200836]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The UK grant of £400,000 to the office of the Quartet Special Representative, Tony Blair, is drawn from the DFID Palestinian aid framework and forms part of the UK development assistance budget. The mandate of Tony Blair to ‘facilitate the efforts of the international community to help Palestinians to build the institutions and economy of a viable state' is consistent with the objectives of the UK aid programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Sudan: Overseas Aid
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people are being given food and other humanitarian assistance in Sudan by (a) the World Food Programme and (b) other international humanitarian agencies to which the UK contributes. [199447]
Gillian Merron: The World Food Programme (WFP) provided food assistance to 5.8 million people in Sudan during 2007. The UK Government's bilateral partners in Darfur and southern Sudan provide humanitarian assistance across a range of sectors to a total of over 2.5 million people.
In addition, the UK Government provided £40 million to the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) for 2008. The CHF funds humanitarian agencies to address the most urgent of the humanitarian needs across Sudan that have been identified in the UN Workplan.
Zimbabwe: Education
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of children under 11 years of age in Zimbabwe were estimated to be enrolled in full-time education in (a) 1997 and (b) 2007. [202157]
Gillian Merron: Available data cover net enrolment of children aged 7 to 12 attending primary school in 1994, 1999 and 2006. Net enrolment was 86 per cent. in 1994, 65 per cent. in 1999 and 91 per cent. in 2006.
Transport
Biofuel: Buses
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will assess the effect of the addition of a five per cent. blend of biodiesel in fuel tanks to fuel on commercial bus operations on fungus growth in such tanks. [202484]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government are aware that in some circumstances the use of biodiesel blends can be associated with bacterial contamination in fuel tanks. The problem tends to arise particularly where the biodiesel does not meet the relevant fuel quality standards. The issue is not a new one: biodiesel blends have been used for many years by bus operators in the UK and other countries. It can generally be addressed through good housekeeping practices, such as regular tank cleaning, and by the use of various fuel additives. These are matters for the transport fuel industry to resolve: commercial bus operators and others should ensure that fuel quality requirements are covered in any fuel supply contracts.
Biofuels
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the adequacy of information contained in the sustainability reports of suppliers of biofuels. [202020]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The first such reports are due to be submitted to the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) by 16 June. Thereafter, the RFA will be reporting regularly on the information it receives on the sustainability of the biofuels used in the UK.
Bus Services: Concessions
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many senior citizen bus passes were delayed on account of her Department's failure to give the necessary information to the contractors Euclid in good time. [201008]
Ms Rosie Winterton: None. However, I understand that a number of travel concession authorities have their passes produced by Euclid. The Department had nothing to do with any arrangements made by authorities with Euclid.
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