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26 Jun 2008 : Column 499W—continued
United Nations: HIV Infection
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial commitments his Department has made to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS to help fight HIV and AIDS. [213238]
Mr. Thomas: Between January 2006 and December 2007 the Department for International Development (DFID) provided £29,955,500 unearmarked core funding and £12,042,500 earmarked for specific activities to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS). We are currently developing a new core funding agreement with UNAIDS for 2008-09 to 2011-12.
United Nations: Humanitarian Aid
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to support reform of the UN system for delivery of aid policy. [213245]
Mr. Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) is a strong supporter of the UN and recognises that it is a key partner in achieving the MDG's. $15 billion of all development aid flows through the UN. The UK spent £615 million through the UN in 2005. The high level panel report recommended key reforms to the way the UN works at country and the central level.
In 2007 DFID provided catalytic funding to assist the transition of the Delivering as One initiative in eight pilot countries as well as active support of the UN country teams as they develop their new plans for a more streamlined UN programme through effective co-ordination between the UN, national governments and donor partners, that support national governments' own development priorities.
DFID is playing a significant role in supporting the transition to a more strategic and coherent programme, better placed to support national capacity.
The success of some of the pilots has led to another 30 governments and UN country teams expressing interest to become part of the next phase of the One UN to improve the coherence and effectiveness of their programmes.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development where the United Nations Development Programme's SURGE Capacity Initiative has been used in crises since its introduction in 2006. [213248]
Mr. Thomas: The United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Immediate Crisis Response, or SURGE, has been deployed in the following crisis situations:
Burma following Cyclone Nargis, May 2008;
Cameroon in response to a sudden influx of Chadian refugees, February 2008;
Chad after post-elections violence had destroyed UNDP's office in the country, February 2008;
Bangladesh following Cyclone Sidr, 2007;
Liberia after a string of natural disasters, 2007;
Solomon Islands following a tsunami, 2007;
Sudan in support of contingency planning for a potential expansion of support to Darfur, 2007.
World Bank
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the compatibility of President Zoellick's six priority areas for the future direction of the World Bank's strategy with UK development policy. [213244]
Mr. Thomas:
The World Bank shares DFID's overarching ambition of eradicating poverty and achieving the millennium development goals. It has an important role in taking forward the policy priorities set out in the 2006 White Paper on International Development and
the 2008 DFID annual report. President Zoellick's vision is for the World Bank Group to contribute to “inclusive and sustainable globalisation”—to overcome poverty, enhance growth with care for the environment, and create individual opportunity and hope. He has set out six strategic themes for the World Bank:
helping low income countries with an emphasis on economic growth, infrastructure, agriculture and governance;
helping fragile states to rebuild after conflict;
helping middle income countries by being more flexible and better responding to their needs;
fostering regional and global public goods particularly trade and climate change—including a portfolio of measures on low carbon growth;
fostering opportunities in the Arab world to help stimulate economic growth; and
fostering knowledge and learning.
These six priority areas accord well with the four priority areas set out in the DFID 2008 annual report—tackling climate change, reform of international institutions, promoting growth, and peace and security.
World Health Organisation: Millennium Development Goals
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has given to the World Health Organisation to assist the achievement of the millennium development goals on health. [213240]
Gillian Merron: During the period 2002-03 to 2005-06, the latest period for which comprehensive figures are available, DFID provided $387 million through the World Health Organisation (WHO). This comprised $197 million for global partnerships such as Roll Back Malaria and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and $73 million in unearmarked central funding for the WHO's development work. The balance in DFID funding over this period supported WHO's work at a country level and in humanitarian situations.
Zimbabwe: HIV Infection
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of reliability of the evidence for the positive trends in the fight against HIV in unstable countries reported by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, with particular reference to Zimbabwe. [213239]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The evidence for the positive trends in the fight against HIV is based on the 2007 UNAIDS Epidemiology Update. These epidemiological estimates are based on methods and parameters that are reviewed and endorsed by an expert Reference Group based on work by country analysts.
UNAIDS indicates that the downward trend observed in Zimbabwe's HIV prevalence rate is supported by several studies. The UNAIDS assessment of the HIV prevalence rate in Zimbabwe is likely to be the best assessment possible under current conditions.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Mr. MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. [214017]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe continues to be a grave cause for concern. This year’s harvest has been the worst in post-colonial history. The World Food Programme estimates that 5.1 million people may need food aid in the coming year. The severe HIV/AIDS crisis, increasing poverty and destitution, the chaos caused by hyperinflation, and the breakdown of water and sanitation services, are all adding to the risk factors for a major humanitarian emergency.
On 4 June the Government of Zimbabwe suspended the field activities of all NGO’s and Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs), with severe implications for the delivery of humanitarian relief. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that around 1.5 million people are being immediately affected. UNICEF say this number includes half a million children.
The World Food Programme’s main feeding programme is due to scale up from August. The absence of large scale food aid programmes in the second half of the year could lead to high levels of malnutrition and increased mortality.
Health
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2008, Official Report, columns 102-3W, on models of care for alcohol misusers, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the efficacy of primary care trusts implementation of guidelines on Models of Care for Alcohol Misusers; and if he will make a statement. [214220]
Dawn Primarolo: The Department monitors the outcomes of effective prevention and treatment through the Public Service Agreement Indicator on alcohol-related hospital admissions for each primary care trust (PCT). The responsibility for developing effective pathways for prevention, treatment and care lies with PCTs. Models of Care for Alcohol Misusers provides advice for PCTs.
Allergies: Health Services
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Sixth Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, Session 2006-07, HL 166, what progress has been made in setting up a pilot regional allergy centre. [212809]
Ann Keen: In the Government's response to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology report on Allergy we announced our intention to consider whether a pilot allergy centre was the best way forward. We have since written to all strategic health authorities inviting declarations of interest in leading this process.
We are also continuing to consult stakeholders, including commissioners and patient representative bodies, about what will best meet the needs of patients.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the invitation to strategic health authorities to tender to lead the regional allergy centre pilot. [212810]
Ann Keen: Copies of the invitation have been placed in the Library.
Asthma: Children
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Department of Children, Schools and Families on the care of children with (a) asthma and (b) diabetes. [212076]
Ann Keen: My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and the Secretary of State for Health meet regularly to discuss matters of interest to the two Departments. They have not met specifically to discuss diabetes or asthma, although meetings have covered the child health strategy, due later this year, which will cover a range of issues including care of children with long-term health conditions.
Carers: Working Hours
Mr. Stephen O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on the application of the Working Time Directive to carers on sleeping duty; what estimate he has made of the
number of care packages affected by the application of the Directive; and if he will make a statement. [213326]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department has not issued guidance about how the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) impacts on carers. Most carers are volunteers and are not covered by the EWTD.
Carers employed on sleeping duty are covered by the employment legislation including the EWTD. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) provide relevant guidance that can be accessed via their website at:
The Government have provided significant investment in local services, including social care. Allocations to local authorities (LAs) have increased by 39 per cent. in real terms since 1997. The detail of contracting arrangements between LAs and independent sector providers of care is a matter for local decision. We expect LAs to take into account a range of provider costs such as implementing the EWTD.
Compulsorily Detained Mental Patients
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and related legislation in England in each of the last four years for which figures are available, broken down by (a) region and (b) primary care trust. [212673]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.
However, such information as is available is contained in the following table:
| Numbers of formal admissions to national health service facilities and independent hospitals registered to detain patients under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation in England in each of the last four years for which figures are available, broken down by region | |||||
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | ||
| Source: Hospital Episode Statistics: KP90 | |||||
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