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3 Mar 2009 : Column 1579W—continued
Nepal
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Pakistan
Rwanda
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Sudan
Switzerland
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Uganda
USA
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Bosnia
Departmental Visits Abroad
Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which hotels in Nairobi are designated as preferred for the purposes of his Department’s officials’ travel arrangements as set out in the departmental staff handbook. [259648]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The current marker hotel for Nairobi is the Fairview Hotel. This selection was arrived at following a joint exercise conducted by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the British high commission. The criteria for selection included value for money, proximity to the office and acceptable security standards. If that hotel is fully booked, the Serena Hotel is used as the next best option.
DFID and the high commission are currently re-tendering hotel accommodation and will select two marker hotels by the end of March 2009, using similar criteria.
International Planned Parenthood Federation
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what records his Department holds on the uses to which the core funds of the International Planned Parenthood Federation have been put over the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [259016]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) receives core funding from the Department for International Development (DFID) of £8.6 million per annum. This is in recognition of their improved performance and global leadership in support of global sexual and reproductive health and rights. Core funding is provided to support IPPF’s global plan of work and DFID does not require IPPF to separately track and account for DFID funding.
DFID provides funding to IPPF for its work to promote reproductive health. IPPF produces an annual report and audited accounts which are used by DFID for monitoring purposes. DFID also attends IPPF’s annual donor consultation meeting to consider issues such as performance and effectiveness. The IPPF Annual Report is available on-line at:
Joint Environment, Infrastructure and Livelihoods Retreat
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) date, (b) duration and (c) location was of the Joint Environment, Infrastructure and Livelihoods Retreat run by his Department and supported by HTSPE Ltd in 2008, reference number 200808420. [259463]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The joint environment, infrastructure and livelihoods retreat in 2008 was held between June 30 - 4 July. The venue was Wyboston Lakes, conference centre, Wyboston, Bedfordshire UK.
Mass Media
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost of his Department’s contracts with press monitoring services was in each of the last five years. [251222]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development’s (DFID) press office has three types of contracts for coverage monitoring. Press cuts are provided by EDS (Electronic Distribution Service), broadcast coverage by the MMU (Media Monitoring Unit) and online coverage by Meltwater. The latter is relatively a new service from 2006. Details of DFID spend on press monitoring is displayed in the following table:
| Financial year | Total cost (£) |
Population: China
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether account is taken of the human rights implications of the Chinese one-child policy in his Department's decisions on aid to China; and if he will make a statement. [259022]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) works closely and has ongoing constructive dialogue with the Chinese Government regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights. This is an important element of our support for reproductive health (through agencies such as UNFPA and IPPF) and HIV prevention. The UK Government do not support China’s one-child policy or its implementation. We are working to promote and uphold the principles of free and informed choice as set out at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994.
Although the one-child policy remains in place, China has made good progress in ensuring reproductive rights more generally, especially through its implementation of the 2002 Law of Population and Family Planning. The law spells out rights and responsibilities for clients, service providers and family planning officials. Most provinces have enacted their own regulations in accordance with national law.
UN Population Fund
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the annual report of the United Nations Population Fund for each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement; [259015]
(2) if he will place in the Library copies of reports on population control in China received by his Department from the (a) International Planned Parenthood Federation and (b) United Nations Fund for Population Activities; and if he will make a statement; [259162]
(3) if he will place in the Library copies of recent comments made by (a) the United Nations Population Fund and (b) the International Planned Parenthood Federation relating to coercive population policies in China; and if he will make a statement. [259017]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Copies of the last two annual reports published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will be placed in the Library. UN agencies publish their annual reports on their external websites:
The Department for International Development (DFID) does not hold copies of reports and/or comments on population control in China from or with regard to ( a ) UNFPA and ( b ) the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). The UK Government do not support China’s one-child policy or its implementation. We are working to promote and uphold the principles of free
and informed choice as set out at the international conference on population and development in Cairo in 1994. UNFPA and IPPF are both working to promote reform and change in China. Neither supports the one- child policy or its implementation. As a condition of UNFPA support, the Chinese authorities have removed birth quotas and targets within the counties in which UNFPA provides support.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who the UK representative on the Executive Board of the United Nations Population Fund is; and what relevant (a) specialist and (b) general qualifications and experience this representative has. [259023]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The British representative on the Executive Board of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is an accredited member of the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations, acting under the direction of the UK ambassador to the UN.
The current incumbent has specialist skills and qualifications in both economics and international relations. They also have seven years of practical experience working across government in the UK and four years experience working in the multilateral system.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) officials have had with the United States Administration on its decision to (i) reinstate the US contribution to the United Nations Population Fund and (ii) rescind the Mexico City policy; and if he will make a statement. [259024]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Meetings have been held at official level with both the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) since the new Administration took power. Both USAID and PEPFAR are experiencing considerable transition and it will take some months before policy and funding changes are clarified. Discussions will be on-going to engage with and where appropriate to influence this process.
The UK Government welcome early signs of the new US Administration’s support for family planning and sexual reproductive health and rights. Rescinding the Mexico City Policy paves the way for organisations such as the International Planned Parenthood Fund (IPPF) to apply for US funding. In addition the US President has made a clear statement in support of UNFPA and the US Congress has already passed the omnibus financial year 2009 Spending Bill that provides for US$50 million for UNFPA.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the United Nations Population Fund in promoting non-coercive approaches to family planning in China since October 2007; and if he will make a statement. [259161]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has successfully demonstrated that non-coercive family planning methods can be effective in China. UNFPA’s policies and activities in China, as in the rest
of the world, are in strict conformity with the unanimously adopted programme of action of the international conference on population and development in 1994.
UNFPA’s policy of constructive engagement with the Chinese Government is helping to influence China’s approach to reproductive health and rights. For example the Chinese national population and family planning commission and the Ministry of Health have begun to harmonise standards of service delivery protocols to include UNFPA quality of care principles, such as counselling, to enable informed choice and promote client rights.
Zimbabwe: Drinking Water
Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the ability of the population of Zimbabwe to access clean water; and if he will make a statement. [260276]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: A recent household survey conducted by UNICEF in Zimbabwe showed that 77 per cent. of households across rural areas relied on a safe water source. A large number, therefore, do not have good enough water to prevent exposure to diseases such as cholera. In urban areas, where most people rely on piped municipal water, a breakdown in infrastructure and a lack of chemicals has placed an increasingly large number of households at risk.
Zimbabwe: Food
Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the ability of the population of Zimbabwe to obtain food; and if he will make a statement. [260274]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We expect that 7 million people will have received food aid in February, and more disease outbreaks are possible. The Government of Zimbabwe have failed to procure the share of food necessary, in turn creating additional pressure on existing supplies. Although the harvest looks set to be reasonable, it will be small in scale. It is expected that a significant food aid programme will be required in the coming year.
The Department for International Development (DFID) is doing everything it can to help save lives in Zimbabwe. This financial year we expect to deliver a programme of £49 million—including in the areas of food security; combating HIV and AIDS; supporting orphans and vulnerable children; providing essential medicines; and fighting cholera.
Zimbabwe: Health Services
Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the ability of the population of Zimbabwe to access health services; and if he will make a statement. [260275]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Years of political and economic mismanagement have eroded a once very fine health service in Zimbabwe. General health status indicators have fallen in the last few years and especially since the failed elections of 2008. The number of preventable deaths has increased significantly as public health services have been depleted. Rural transport networks have become expensive and the majority of Zimbabweans have found it increasingly difficult to access health services.
The Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting the preservation of basic life-saving health services for the Zimbabwean people through the procurement and distribution of vital medicines and supplies, the retention of health workers, support for the cholera response and to the on-going, crippling HIV and AIDS epidemic. Altogether, DFID will contribute over £20 million this year to protect access to basic health services in Zimbabwe, as part of a £49 million programme to help meet the essential needs of the Zimbabwean people, in terms of food, medical and other assistance.
Zimbabwe: Sanitation
Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of levels of sanitation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [260273]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: A recent household survey conducted by UNICEF in Zimbabwe showed that 40 per cent. of households across rural areas had access to a functional toilet. A large number therefore have poor levels of sanitation that increases exposure to diseases such as cholera. In urban areas, where most people rely on piped municipal water and piped sewerage, a breakdown in infrastructure and a lack of chemicals places increasingly large numbers of households at risk.
On 26 November 2008 the UK Government announced a £10 million package of support to provide life-saving assistance and respond to the escalation of cholera in Zimbabwe. We are working closely with UNICEF and the World Health Organisation to tackle the crisis. Our support includes: help to establish a cholera command and control centre (to coordinate the response); distribution of cholera response kits; provision of potable water in affected areas; and essential medicines and other vital support to health systems.
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