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19 Jun 2008 : Column 1182W—continued
Overseas Aid: Cost Effectiveness
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will provide information that shows how UK civil society concerns are reflected in his Department’s aid effectiveness work and preparations for the HLF in accordance with the dialogue his Department has with UK Advocacy Network. [211705]
Mr. Thomas: The Department for International Development has regular dialogue with the UK Aid Network (UKAN) to ensure their concerns feed into our policy and action and that these concerns are reflected in our work to improve aid effectiveness in line with the Paris Declaration.
In preparation for the High Level Forum, we are supporting the involvement of civil society through research, advocacy and participation at Accra. This includes funding seminars to raise awareness and debate about aid effectiveness issues.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what definition he uses of corporate priority in referring to improving aid effectiveness. [211716]
Mr. Douglas Alexander:
Corporate priorities are identified through the business planning process. The corporate priorities are then included in the Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSOs). Two of DFID’s seven DSOs are about aid effectiveness, demonstrating the priority DFID attaches to it. They are Departmental Strategic Objective No. 5. (To make all bilateral and multilateral donors
more effective); and Departmental Strategic Objective No. 6. (To deliver high quality and effective bilateral development assistance).
Pakistan: Overseas Aid
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been allocated to national health programmes in Pakistan for reducing child mortality. [211726]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided £83.5 million in support of the national health facility over the last five years (2003-08). The funds have contributed to reducing child mortality by supporting programmes to improve immunisation; nutrition; malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS control; and family planning. In total it is estimated our support has helped prevent the deaths of 200,000 children.
In addition in 2006 we committed £90 million over five years to Pakistan's National Maternal and Newborn Health Programme. Not only will this improve maternal health and welfare and prevent maternal deaths, but it is also estimated it will save the lives of 100,000 newborn children.
Sierra Leone: Human Rights
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of progress of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s study on the relationship of social policy issues, gender equality, social inclusion and effectiveness in Sierra Leone. [211718]
Gillian Merron: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s study on the relationship of social policy issues, gender equality, social inclusion and effectiveness in Sierra Leone was undertaken in Sierra Leone during November and December 2007, with the final report being presented in January 2008.
The Government of Sierra Leone have not undertaken any formal assessment of progress of the study as a whole so far. However, there have been assessments of progress in some specific areas. Of particular note are the campaigns to encourage more women to vote in the up coming local elections, and to stand as candidates (partly funded by DFID under an umbrella programme Promoting Voice and Transparency on Elections, PIVOT). Although the figures will not be known until after the elections, the number of women candidates standing (16.5 per cent.) is nearly double that of last time (9 per cent.).
In the five months since the study’s launch, the Government agency that has responsibility for the monitoring of the study (the Development Assistance Co-ordination Office, DACO) has been focused on finalising two strategic processes:
1. Completing the overall Survey of the Paris Declaration (February and March 2008). This is the strategic process which regularly monitors aid effectiveness issues in partner countries.
2. The production of a new Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, PRSP, which is the National Development Strategy monitored under Indicator One of the Paris Declaration Survey.
South Asia: HIV Infection
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what organisations his Department is supporting to fight HIV and AIDS infection in the South Asia region; and how much these organisations received in 2007-08. [211732]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: Within the South Asia region, DFID supported the fight against HIV and AIDS in India, Nepal and Pakistan during 2007-08.
In India, £21.6 million was provided to the National AIDS Control Organisation, and a further £5.6 million to various organisations including UNAIDS, the BBC World Service Trust, and a range of local NGOs.
In Nepal, £2.1 million was provided to the National Centre for AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Control, and to a range of local NGOs through UNDP.
In Pakistan £1 million was provided to the National AIDS Control Programme, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and UNAIDS.
Sudan: Overseas Aid
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the likely humanitarian effect of changes announced on 10 June 2008 to the World Food Programme Humanitarian Service in Sudan. [211546]
Mr. Thomas: Our initial assessment is that the flight changes announced by the World Food Programme’s Humanitarian Air Service will not adversely affect the front-line work of the humanitarian operation in Darfur. The reductions in the helicopter service still represent an increase from 2007. Other flight changes affect connections between the capital Khartoum and the South. Although these will not have a significant impact on humanitarian operations, they will affect the frequency with which aid workers can travel to regional hubs.
UNICEF Go To School Campaign
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution the UK made to the UNICEF “Go to” School Campaign. [211802]
Mr. Thomas: In March 2008 the Department for International Development (DFID) provided £1.2 million to UNICEF Sudan for the “Go to School” programme. DFID is very happy to support this important initiative which has seen a significant increase in school attendance in Southern Sudan since its inception two years ago.
Duchy of Lancaster
10 Downing Street: Manpower
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff are employed in Downing Street’s House Management Team. [210718]
10 Downing Street: Procurement
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list each of Downing Street’s preferred suppliers, indicating in each case the suppliers’ specialism. [210850]
Phil Hope: The Prime Minister’s Office is part of the Cabinet Office.
In line with Government procurement policy, the Cabinet Office selects its suppliers through competition unless there are justifiable reasons to do otherwise, taking account of value for money. Many of its suppliers are awarded contracts under pan-government framework agreements which have been competed through the EU advertising procedures. Information on suppliers’ specialisms is not held centrally and cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.
Central Office of Information: Procurement
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who the Central Office of Information's preferred suppliers are; what the specialism of each is; and what mechanism was used to select them. [210899]
Mr. Watson: The Central Office of Information has over 800 suppliers listed on our website, www.coi.gov.uk, covering 31 frameworks set up in line with EU procurement directives. Information on suppliers' specialisms is not held centrally and cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.
Departmental Aviation
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance governs the use by former Ministers of air miles incurred from ministerial travel for personal travel once they leave office. [210902]
Phil Hope: Guidance relating to the use of air miles for official travel is set out in the Ministerial Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
Departmental Contracts
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central (Jim Cousins) of 19 February 2008, Official Report, column 687W, on departmental contracts, what the purpose of each such project in relation to each firm was. [210965]
Phil Hope: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 19 February 2008, Official Report, column 687W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, (Jim Cousins).
Departmental Freedom of Information
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the Information Commissioner’s Freedom of Information Good Practice Guidance Note no. 4 on time limits on consideration of the public interest; and if he will make a statement. [210960]
Edward Miliband: The Cabinet Office aims to respond to all Freedom of Information requests within 20 working days. In some cases the consideration of the public interest takes longer and in these instances a response is given within such time as is reasonable in the circumstances, as required by the Freedom of Information Act.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information was requested in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests to the Cabinet Office with case references (a) FS50077719 (received 2 June 2005), (b) FS50085720 (11 August 2005), (c) FS50086426 (17 August 2005), (d) FS50088735, (14 September 2005), (e) FS50088745, (14 September 2005), (f) FS50089369 (21 September 2005), (g) FS50090742, (6 October 2005), (h) FS50091011 (10 October 2005), (i) FS50097905 (6 December 2005) and (j) FS50098388 (8 December 2005). [211071]
Edward Miliband: The Information Commissioner has issued a Decision Notice for FS50090742: ‘The assessment by the Joint Intelligence Committee of Iraq’s declaration of its weapons of mass destruction in December 2002’. The Decision Notice is available on the Information Commissioner’s website at:
and a copy has been placed in the House for the reference of Members.
Decision notices on the other requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2006, will be published in due course by the Information Commissioner.
Departmental Planning Permission
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what (a) planning applications and (b) licensing applications the Cabinet Office has submitted in the last 24 months. [210901]
Phil Hope: Information on planning applications made by the Cabinet Office can be found on the Westminster city council website:
The Cabinet Office has not made any licensing applications in the last 24 months.
Departmental Procurement
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether Cabinet Office purchase orders are recorded in an electronic database. [210876]
Phil Hope: Cabinet Office purchase orders are recorded in an electronic database.
Departmental Public Relations
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what (a) job title, (b) function and (c) role Nicola Burdett has in No. 10 Downing street. [210961]
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when Nicola Burdett began work at 10 Downing street; what her job title is; and who her line manager is. [211674]
Mr. Watson: Nicola Burdett is appointed to No.10 as a special adviser. Special advisers are appointed under the terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, copies of which are in the Library of the House.
Departmental Travel
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what records his Department holds of (a) air miles, and similar promotional travel schemes provided to civil servants in the Cabinet Office in respect of travel paid for from the public purse and (b) the subsequent use of such benefits. [211126]
Phil Hope: If Cabinet Office staff receive air miles or similar promotions as a result of travel on official business, they are either used for future official travel, or, if this is not possible, they are donated to a charity of the travel operator’s choice.
Dorneywood: Official Hospitality
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Ministers have used Dorneywood for departmental functions or events since June 2007. [210875]
Phil Hope: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Exchequer Secretary to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 21 February 2008, Official Report, column 939W.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) of 25 January 2007, Official Report, column 1962W, on Dorneywood, if he will place in the Library the guidance issued to Ministers on the use and availability of Dorneywood for Government meetings and seminars. [210950]
Phil Hope: Guidance on the use of official residences is set out in the “Ministerial Code”. Dorneywood is held in Trust for use as an official residence, as has been the case under successive administrations. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has the use of Dorneywood as an official residence. The Chancellor and the Trustees have now made Dorneywood available to other Ministers to use for official engagements.
Economic and Monetary Union
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) the Central Office of Information last updated their euro changeover plans; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of each. [211114]
Phil Hope: A copy of the most recent version of the Cabinet Office’s euro changeover plan has been placed in the Library of the House. The Central Office of Information is currently formulating its euro changeover plan which is intended for publication at the end of July 2008.
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