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2 July 2008 : Column 1009W—continued
Departmental Planning Permission
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) planning applications and (b) licensing applications his Department has submitted in the last 24 months. [215533]
Mr. Malik: There have been no planning or licensing applications on behalf of the Department for International Development in the last 24 months.
Departmental Press Subscriptions
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent by his Department on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months. [215207]
Mr. Malik: The following table gives details of centrally funded expenditure on newspapers and other regular publications. The figures include publications in both paper and electronic format, many of which are paid for on annual subscriptions. Some newspapers and regular publications are also funded from local budgets, including by DFID’s county offices. Figures for local expenditure could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
| Month | Newspapers, magazines and other publications (£) |
Expenditure varies considerably from month to month because most publications are purchased on subscription with one annual payment.
Developing Countries
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the principal proposals in the World Bank options paper of October 2007 on Government reforms to increase the voice of developing countries. [215600]
Mr. Thomas: The October 2007 paper contains a number of important proposals to increase the voting power and representation of developing countries at the World Bank. The principal proposals include: an increase in basic votes for all countries (which would primarily benefit the poorest countries); measures to strengthen the voice of developing countries at the Board of Executive Directors; and a review of the process for selecting the President of the Bank. The UK Government welcome these proposals and is actively engaged in discussions to reach agreement by April 2009 on a package of measures that will increase the voice of developing countries at the World Bank.
International Monetary Fund: Managers
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with his foreign counterparts on an open and merit-based selection of (a) the International Monetary Fund’s managing director and (b) the World Bank’s president. [215601]
Mr. Thomas: On 13 April 2008, at the World Bank Spring Meetings, the Secretary of State for International Development participated in a discussion with other World Bank Governors on voice and representation—one element of which is the selection process of the World Bank President. The UK secured positive language on voice in the outcome document of the Spring Meetings, including the setting of a target date of April 2009 for agreement on a comprehensive package of reforms. The Chancellor of the Exchequer leads for the UK in discussions about the selection of the International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director and has publicly stressed the importance of an open and merit-based selection process.
Iraq: Christianity
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid has been provided by his Department for members of Iraq’s Christian minority who have fled the conflict in Iraq in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [213900]
Mr. Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) is committed to improving the humanitarian situation both of internally displaced people in Iraq and of Iraqi refugees in the region. We have provided over £149 million in humanitarian assistance to international agencies working in Iraq and the region since 2003—including £17 million this year. This funding has helped to provide immediate assistance such as food, shelter and medical supplies to the most vulnerable people in Iraq.
We are aware of the fact that some groups may be particularly vulnerable due to ethnic or religious affiliation, such as the Christian minority. However, it is not the UK’s policy to provide direct assistance to any particular religious group in Iraq. Rather, we channel our assistance through established international organisations, notably the United Nations, with a mandate to provide protection to all refugees—regardless of ethnicity or religion—and to distribute aid to those who need it most.
Malawi: Health Education
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department has allocated to (a) tackle HIV/AIDS, (b) improve other health services and (c) improve education in Malawi in 2008-09. [213335]
Gillian Merron: For 2008-09, the Department for International Development (DFID) currently expects to spend from existing commitments:
£2.4 million on HIV/AIDS;
£18.8 million directly to the health sector; and
£10 million to improve education.
DFID also plans to provide £22 million of poverty reducing budget support, of which, we would broadly expect £4.2 million to be spent on education and £4.4 million on health.
In addition to direct DFID funding, in 2008-09, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria plan to provide around £46 million to fight HIV/AIDS in Malawi, and around £15 million to the health programme. The UK Government have made long-term commitments of £1 billion (2007-15) to the Global Fund. Over the three years commencing 2008, this counts for 7.5 per cent. of Global Fund resources.
In 2008-09, the World Bank plan to provide around £4 million to support HIV/AIDS in Malawi and up to £2 million to health via budget support. It plans to provide up to £4.5 million directly and indirectly to education. The UK Government have made a three-year commitment of £2.13 billion to the World Bank’s International Development Assistance round 15. This counts for 14 per cent. of new contributions to the World Bank.
In 2008-09, the European Union is proposing to provide up to £4 million for health through project funding and indirectly through budget support for and up to £3.2 million to education via budget support. The UK provides more than 14 per cent. of all EU development funding.
The UK Government have also committed £6 billion to strengthening health systems and services over seven years to 2015 in the updated AIDS strategy “Achieving Universal Access - the UK’s strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world”.
A copy of the updated strategy and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website at:
Olympic Games
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic Games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost. [212113]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: There are no plans for any Minister or officials from the Department for International Development to attend the Olympics in Beijing in an official capacity.
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