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10 Mar 2009 : Column 330W—continued
Palestinians: Overseas Aid
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which projects will receive funding from the £30 million allocated by his Department for reconstruction work in Gaza. [261898]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The objective of the Department for International Development’s (DFID) support for the first phase of reconstruction, known as ‘early recovery’, is to help the most vulnerable people in Gaza rebuild their lives. We are currently assessing the best channels for such support. Options include assistance through the UN, the World Bank, the European Commission and non-governmental organisations. Our funding will help ensure delivery of basic services. As a first step, there is a need for large scale removal of rubble across Gaza. We have therefore allocated £443,000 to the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to clear unexploded ordnance from these sites.
A full breakdown of DFID’s funding for Gaza can be found on the DFID website:
Public Opinion
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what expenditure has been incurred by the (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies in each year since 1997 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; if he will list the surveys commissioned; and what the purpose was of each. [261175]
Mr. Thomas: (a) Details of DFID's expenditure on opinion polling and focus groups in each complete financial year since 1997 are outlined in the following table. (iii) DFID may have commissioned other forms of market research as part of its development programme, however these costs are not held centrally and it would incur disproportionate cost to obtain them. Figures for 2008-09 are not yet available.
(c) DFID has one non-departmental public body, the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission. The Commission has incurred no expenditure on opinion polling, focus groups or other forms of market research since 1997.
St Helena: Airports
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has received on the proposed construction of an airport on St. Helena; and if he will make a statement. [262300]
Mr. Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) has received a number of letters from Members of Parliament and other interested parties about the proposal to construct an airport on St. Helena. On 9 February, the Under-Secretary of State for International Development, my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster), met the Governor of St. Helena on the issue. He has also met with representatives from the bidding company, Impregilo SpA, on 10 February and from SHELCO (St. Helena Leisure Corporation Ltd) on 2 March.
Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received on the number of people displaced from Abyei in Sudan in May and December 2008 who have returned to their homes. [260763]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
Fighting in May 2008 displaced approximately 55,000 people from Abyei town and surrounding areas from a total population of some 100,000. Up to 10,000 people displaced by fighting in May returned to Abyei after the signing of the Road
Map peace agreement in June 2008. However, the majority were later displaced again by fighting in December and the latest reports from the UN indicate that the population of Abyei and surrounding areas is now fewer than 50,000, not including nomadic populations. Of these, most are living in displaced camps in Agok. Ongoing security concerns and very weak basic civil administration are the main barriers to returns.
The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided £3 million for water, sanitation, health care and basic household items for the displaced in Abyei through the UN’s Common Humanitarian Fund. DFID is also providing some £6.2 million in support of the Abyei administration, police and education.
Women and Equality
Women in the Church
5. Ms Keeble: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what discussions she has had with the Second Church Estates Commissioner on the employment of women in the church. [261698]
Maria Eagle: I have had no discussions with the Second Church Estates Commissioner on this matter. Issues such as the roles of women in the Church of England are a matter for the Church itself.
Domestic Violence
6. Julie Morgan: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will commission research to examine whether there is a relationship between major sporting events and levels of domestic violence. [261699]
Maria Eagle: I am aware of the interesting research undertaken by Cardiff university’s Professor Jonathan Shepherd indicating a link between large-scale sporting events, alcohol consumption and domestic violence. The Government have no plans to commission additional research at this time.
I applaud the recent launch of the Wales tackles domestic abuse campaign to coincide with the Six Nations Championships. It echoes our message that violence against women and girls is unacceptable whatever the context and whatever the circumstances.
Equality Bill
7. Mr. Sharma: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what provision she plans to make in the Equality Bill for the use of positive action to redress inequalities at work. [261700]
Maria Eagle: The Equality Bill will broaden the range of voluntary positive action measures which can be taken by employers or service providers to the full extent allowed by European law.
For example, employers will, in some circumstances, be able to take under-representation or disadvantage into account when selecting for appointment or promotion between two or more equally suitable candidates, if they choose to do so.
The new provisions will be backed by comprehensive and authoritative guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
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