Green Investment Bank
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish the design for the Green Investment Bank. [47714]
Mr Prisk: We will be making a detailed announcement in May.
Higher Education: Admissions
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what number and proportion of UCAS applicants were accepted and enrolled onto university courses with (a) less than 80 UCAS tariff points and (b) no UCAS tariff points in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08, (iii) 2008-09 and (iv) 2009-10. [47532]
Mr Willetts: The information is in the following table. Information on tariff score is only available for UK domiciled applicants.
| UK domiciled accepted applicants to courses via UCAS with unknown or no tariff points and 1-79 tariff points 2006/07 to 2009/10 | ||||||
| No points or unknown | 1-79 points | |||||
|
|
Applicants | Accepted applicants | Percentage of applicants accepted | Applicants | Accepted applicants | Percentage of applicants accepted |
| Source: UCAS | ||||||
For the 2008/09 cycle applications formerly handled by the Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service (NMAS) merged into the main UCAS system. Therefore, this year and 2009/10 are not directly comparable with previous years.
Applicants with no points will include those whose qualifications are not part of the UCAS tariff framework, and therefore do not carry a tariff score.
Higher Education: Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials of each grade in his Department have policy responsibility for dealing with anti-Semitism in UK universities; what sources are available to them to obtain up-to-date information on anti-Semitism in UK universities; what recent reports he has received from officials in his Department on levels of anti-Semitism in UK universities; and if he will make a statement. [R] [47706]
Mr Willetts:
There are four officials who cover policy on anti-Semitism as part of their remit—by grade these are two senior civil servants, one team leader and one higher executive officer. Policy officials have access to a range of information sources from both across government and external partners, including published reports. I
22 Mar 2011 : Column 1085W
have received information about the most recent Community Security Trust report on anti-Semitic incidents in the UK which reported a continued fall in incident numbers in UK universities, from 97 incidents in 2009 to 44 incidents in 2010 (there were 67 incidents in 2008). The 2009 figure includes 38 incidents, it is believed, committed by one perpetrator leading to a high overall total.
There is no place for racism of any form, including anti-Semitism, in higher education. Universities have access to a strong legislative framework and guidance to help them deal effectively with instances of intolerance, racism and harassment in their institutions. Government would expect them to vigorously tackle these issues when they arise and has supported institutions with key guidance on promoting good campus relations in the sector.
Lasers: Children
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the sale of laser pens to children. [47228]
Mr Davey: We have had no recent representations on the sale of laser pens to children.
Loans
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the review by the Office of Fair Trading on the high cost of credit in respect of payday loans; and what progress has been made on establishing an industry-wide statement of practice supporting greater transparency, clarity and simplicity in the short-term loans industry. [48328]
Mr Davey:
This Department and HM Treasury are carrying out a joint review of consumer credit and personal insolvency that will look at all aspects of the consumer credit lifecycle from the decision to take out a loan through the lifetime of the loan. A call for evidence connected with the review has recently concluded and Government are considering the substantial number of submissions received. The review will also provide a framework for us to consider how best to take forward the recommendations from the recent Office for Fair
22 Mar 2011 : Column 1086W
Trading review of the high cost credit market. Government will make an announcement on next steps following the May local elections.
The Consumer Finance Association is responsible for the Payday Loan Forum which is considering whether to introduce a statement of practice in the payday loan industry.
Graduates: Medicine and Science
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many medical students graduated in (a) England and (b) the West Midlands in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [47879]
Mr Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the table. Figures refer to graduates domiciled in England and the West Midlands Government office region. Figures for 2010/11 will be available in January 2012.
| Medicine (1) qualifiers (2) from England and West Midlands Government office region, UK higher education institutions, academic year 2005/06 to 2009/10 | ||
| Academic year | England | West Midlands |
| (1) Covers pre-clinical and clinical medicine. (2) Covers qualifiers from full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Note: Figures are based on a qualifications obtained population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). | ||
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many medical students graduated from institutions in Greater London in each of the last five years; [47978]
(2) how many students in universities in (a) Greater London and (b) England graduated in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [48030]
Mr Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the tables. Figures for the 2010/11 academic year will be available in January 2012.
| Qualifiers (1) from s cience, t echnology, e ngineering and m athematics s ubjects h igher education institutions in London g overnment o ffice r egion and England a cademic y ears 2005/06 to 2009/10 | ||||||
| Academic year | Medicine and dentistry | of which; Medicine (2) | Subjects allied to medicine | Biological sciences | Veterinary science | Agricultural and related subjects |
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| Academic year | Physical sciences | Mathematical sciences | Computer science | Engineering and technology | Architecture, building and planning | Total STEM |
| (1) Covers qualifiers from all domiciles, levels of study and modes of study. (2) Covers both clinical and pre-clinical medicine. (3) Includes figures for London Higher Education Institutions. Note : Figures are based on a HESA qualifications obtained population and have been rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). | ||||||
Overseas Trade
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of UK trade was conducted with (a) Brazil, (b) Russia, (c) India and (d) China in each financial year since 2001-02. [48332]
Mr Prisk: The following table shows shares of UK exports and imports of goods and services on a balance of payments basis. Trade statistics are usually presented on a calendar year basis.
| Percentage | ||||||||
| Share of UK exports of goods and services going to: | Share of UK imports of goods and services coming from: | |||||||
|
|
Brazil | Russia | India | China | Brazil | Russia | India | China |
| Note: Initial estimates for 2010 are due to be published on 29 March. Source: BIS from ONS UK Economic Accounts. | ||||||||
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which UK companies have made the largest contribution to the economy of (a) Brazil, (b) Russia, (c) India and (d) China in the latest period for which figures are available. [48340]
Mr Prisk: This information is not held centrally and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value was in real terms of UK (a) exports to and (b) imports from (i) China, (ii) India, (iii) Brazil and (iv) Russia in each year since 2007. [48358]
Mr Prisk: The following table shows values at current prices for UK trade in goods and services on a balance of payments basis. There is not sufficient information available on price changes for trade with individual countries to be able to produce real terms values.
| £ million | ||||||||
| UK exports of goods and services to: | UK imports of goods and services from: | |||||||
|
|
China | India | Brazil | Russia | China | India | Brazil | Russia |
| Note: Initial estimates for 2010 are due to be published on 29 March. Source: ONS UK Economic Accounts | ||||||||
Overseas Trade: Brazil
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the monetary value in real terms of (a) investment in Brazil by UK businesses and (b) investment in the UK by Brazilian businesses in each financial year since 2001-02. [48360]
Mr Prisk: The Office for National Statistics publishes geographical data for foreign direct investment (FDI) in its annual Business Monitor MA4. Data are in current prices on a calendar year basis. The following table shows FDI flows to and from Brazil since 2001 and FDI stocks at 31 December 2009.
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| £ million | ||
|
|
UK outward FDI to Brazil | UK inward FDI from Brazil |
| (1) Indicates disclosive data. | ||
Overseas Trade: India
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value in real terms was of (a) investment in India by UK businesses and (b) investment in the UK by Indian businesses in each year since 2001. [48409]
Mr Prisk: The Office for National Statistics publishes geographical data for foreign direct investment (FDI) in its annual Business Monitor MA4. Data are in current prices on a calendar year basis. The following table shows FDI flows to and from India since 2001 and FDI stocks at 31 December 2009.
| £ million | ||
|
|
UK outward FDI to India | UK inward FDI from India |
| (1) Indicates disclosive data. Note: A minus sign indicates a net disinvestment abroad (i.e. a decrease in the amount due to the UK). | ||
Overseas Trade: Russia
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the monetary value in real terms of (a) investment in Russia by UK businesses and (b) investment in the UK by Russian businesses in each financial year since 2001-02. [48359]
Mr Prisk: The Office for National Statistics publishes geographical data for foreign direct investment (FDI) in its annual Business Monitor MA4. Data are in current prices on a calendar year basis. The following table shows FDI flows to and from Russia since 2001 and FDI stocks at 31 December 2009.
22 Mar 2011 : Column 1090W
| £ million | ||
|
|
UK outward FDI to Russia | UK inward FDI from Russia |
| (1) Indicates disclosive data. Note: A minus sign indicates a net disinvestment abroad (i.e. a decrease in the amount due to the UK). | ||
Post Offices: Bank Services
Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions the Post Office has had with retail banks on the date by which all holders of (a) personal and (b) business accounts at UK retail banks will be able to undertake cash and cheque withdrawal and deposit transactions at Post Office counters. [47815]
Mr Davey: This Government have made clear their ambition for all UK current accounts to be accessible through the post office network, and welcomes the agreement that has been reached between Post Office Ltd. and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to allow RBS and NatWest customers to access their current and business accounts at post offices.
There have been discussions between Post Office Ltd and those banks yet to agree to provide access to current and business accounts at post offices but the details of these discussions are commercially confidential.
Prisons: Higher Education
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2011, Official Report, column 1054W, on prisoners: education, (1) what the cost to the public purse of providing Open University courses to prisoners was in each of the last five years; [46837]
(2) how many and what proportion of Open University courses prisoners have (a) completed and (b) passed in the latest period for which figures are available; [46838]
(3) what level of education or qualifications prisoners are required to hold before they are accepted on an Open University course; [46839]
(4) what Open University courses prisoners are undertaking; [46840]
(5) how many prisoners on Open University courses are not UK nationals; [46841]
(6) if he will consider the merits of amending the system for funding Open University courses for prisoners to bring it into line with funding, loan and tuition fee arrangements for university study by those not in prison; and if he will make a statement. [46842]
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Mr Hayes: The cost to the public purse of prisoners studying with the Open University in prisons over the financial years 2005-06 to 2009-10 is set out in the following tables:
| Costs met from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (and predecessors) offender learning budget | |
| Financial year (April-March) | £000 |
| (1) England and Wales. (2) England. | |
| Costs met from the Open University’s Access to Learning Fund budget | |
| Financial year (August-July) | £000 |
| (1 )England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (2) England and Northern Ireland. | |
In prisons in England in the 2009-10 academic year 1,513 (69%) of prisoners completed and 1,293 (59%) passed the Open University course(1) for which they were studying. A typical course is worth 60 credit points and requires 16 hours of study each week over nine months. Students aiming for an Open Degree need to earn 300 credit points, the equivalent of five years of 60 credit point courses.
Nearly all Open University undergraduate courses have no formal entry requirements, either prior qualifications or experience: this allows people who have missed out on education to fulfil their potential and achieve a university-level qualification. The bar is set higher for prisoners, with prospective students who wish to secure funding through this Department required to demonstrate that they have achieved level 2 qualifications and to show evidence of serious commitment to learning for rehabilitation purposes. All applications are considered individually by the Prisoners’ Education Trust which administers the scheme on the Department’s behalf.
Prison Service Instruction 33/2010 requires the Prison Governor/Director (or their representative) to apply a sift procedure to all prisoners wishing to apply for an Open University course(1), regardless of the funding source. The sift ensures not only that applicants have been properly advised about the nature of study, and have the aptitude, ability and motivation to complete the course successfully, but also that the course the prisoner is applying for is appropriate in the context of his/her conviction.
Prisoners are currently undertaking the following Open University courses in English prisons:
20th century literature: texts and debates
A world of whose making? Analysing International developments
Advanced creative writing
Advanced French
Advanced Spanish
An Introduction to Business Studies
An Introduction to Health and Social Care
An Introduction to Law
Analysing data
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Applications of Probability
Applying psychology
Approaching Literature
Archaeology, the science of investigation
Art and its histories
Beginners Chinese
Beginners French
Beginners German
Beginners Italian
Beginners Spanish
Beginners Welsh
Biological Psychology
Biology: Uniformity and Diversity
Business Functions in context
Business Organisations and Environments
Capacities for managing development
Challenging ideas in mental health
Chemical Change and environmental applications
Child development
Communication and Information technologies
Communication in health in care
Community safety, crime prevention and social control
Computers and processors
Counselling: exploring fear and sadness
Creative Writing
Crime and justice
Data Computing and Information
Death and dying
Design and designing
Designing Applications with visual basic
Developing concurrent distributed systems
Development context and practice
Diabetes care
Discourse Analysis
Discovering Mathematics
Discovering Psychology
Diverse perspectives on mental health
Doing economics: People, markets and policy
Economics and Economic change
Elements of Forensic science
Empire of the Microbes
Energy for a sustainable future
Engineering mechanics material design
Engineering small worlds
Engineering the future
English grammar in context
Enterprise and the environment
Environment
Environment: Journeys through a changing world
Environmental decision making
Environmental modelling monitoring and control
Environmental policy in an international context
Environmental science
Europe: Culture and Identities
Evolution
Exploring History: Medieval to Modern 1400-1900
Exploring Mathematics
Exploring psychology
Exploring science
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Exploring the classical world
Exploring the English Language
Film and TV History
Financial Accounting
Fossils and the history of life
From Enlightenment to Romanticism
Fundamentals of interaction design
Geology
Graphs: network and design
How the Universe works
Human Biology
Human genetics and health issues
Innovation: Designing for a sustainable future
Institutional development
Intermediate French
Intermediate German
Intermediate Italian
Intermediate Spanish
International development
Introducing astronomy
Introducing environment
Introducing Environment (new version 15 credits)
Introducing religions
Introducing the social sciences
Introducing the Social Sciences Part 1
Introducing the Social Sciences Part 2
Introduction to counselling
Introduction to Sport Fitness and Management
Investigating entrepreneurial opportunities
Keeping ahead in information
Law: Agreements rights responsibilities
Law: Ownership and trusteeships
Law: the Individual and the state
Learning to change
Linear Statistical Modelling
Living in a globalised world
Living political ideas
Making sense of strategy
Making sense of the arts
Making sense of the arts (new version 15 credits)
Making social worlds
Managing care
Managing complexity: a systems approach
Managing in the workplace
Marketing and Society
Mathematical methods and models
Maths for Science
Medicine and Society in Europe 1500-1930
Molecules, medicines and drugs
Networked living: exploring information and communication
Number theory and Mathematical logic
Object Oriented programming with Java
Oceanography
Optimization
Personal and career development in engineering
Personal lives and social policy
Perspectives on complementary and alternative medicine
Philosophy and the Human Situation
Planets; an introduction
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Plants and people
Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental decision making
Postgraduate foundation module in philosophy
Power dissent equality
Project Management
Promoting public health
Pure mathematics
Putting Java to work
Reading Classical Greek Language and literature
Reading Classical Latin
Relational Databases: theory and practice
Religion in History
Renaissance Art
Science in context
Science starts here
Shakespeare: text and performance
Signals and Perception
Social psychology
Software development with Java
Software Engineering with objects
Sport and exercise psychology
Starting with law
Starting with Maths
Starting with psychology
Starting with psychology (new version 15 credits)
The 19th Century Novel
The art of English
The Arts Past and present
The Greek Theatre
The molecular world
The physical world
The relativistic universe
The science of the mind: investigating mental health
The technology of music
Themes in philosophy
Topology
Total War and Social Change in Europe
Understanding children
Understanding cities
Understanding health
Understanding health (15 credits)
Understanding human nutrition
Understanding Law
Understanding Management
Understanding Music
Understanding Society
Understanding systems
Understanding the autism spectrum
Understanding the continents
Understanding weather
Upper Intermediate Spanish
Using Mathematics
Voices and Texts
Waves diffusion and variational principles
Welfare crime and society
Words and Music
Working and Learning in Sport and Fitness
Working for Health
You and your money: personal finance in context
22 Mar 2011 : Column 1095W
The Open University’s data on nationality of current prisoner students are incomplete. However, in the financial year 2010-11, the Prisoners’ Education Trust has approved funding for three foreign national prisoners, and refused one. Foreign nationals are only funded if they make an exceptionally strong application, taking into account their previous employment history and their commitment to self-reform and avoidance of further crime. They must also have sufficient time to complete the course inside custody.
The Government continue to believe that higher education is an important learning progression route for some prisoners. A small number of prisoners are able to study higher education full-time as they approach the end of their sentences while released on temporary licence. They are expected to meet their own higher education costs, supported by access to fee loans in exactly the same way as other higher education students. Maintenance loans are not available for prisoners.
Mainstream students studying part-time higher education courses are supported through grant arrangements: prisoners are not eligible for those grants. Where prisoners have the means to support their own part-time higher education study, they are expected to do so. Where a prisoner cannot afford to support their own learning, we make arrangements to support that learning as described in the answer of 8 March 2011, Official Report, column 1054W, on prisoners’ education. As that earlier answer noted, we are considering how higher education for prisoners should be funded as part of the Government’s review of offender learning. We expect that review to be published shortly.
(1) In the Open University context, a course is a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
Regional Growth Fund
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the method used by his Department to estimate the number of public sector jobs for the purposes of the Regional Growth Fund includes members of the armed services. [47991]
Mr Prisk: One of a range of metrics used to assess the locality of bids to the Regional Growth Fund was the share of employee jobs in the public sector from the Office for National Statistics Annual Business Inquiry (ABI). Employee jobs provide a count of jobs not people/employment and do not cover self-employed jobs, HM forces and Government-supported trainees. Public sector employee jobs are those in: public corporations/nationalised bodies, central Government and local authority. The private sector is defined as: company, sole proprietor, partnership and non-profit body or mutual association. Full information on these data can be found on the BIS website:
http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ppse/index.asp
Repayable Launch Investment
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department’s budget includes an allocation of funds for Repayable Launch Investment. [47857]
22 Mar 2011 : Column 1096W
Mr Prisk: The Department has allocated funding to meet its contractual commitments under existing Repayable Launch Investment agreements.
In common with the policy of previous Governments there is no specific allocation for new Repayable Launch Investment within departmental budgets.
Science: Females
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to address the level of attrition between education and employment for women in (a) engineering, (b) science and (c) other technology disciplines. [48023]
Mr Willetts: We will encourage diversity in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) work force by embedding and mainstreaming best practice and lessons learnt, from the past few years, into the programmes we fund. We will also ask our partners and stakeholders to collaborate with us on this, and share their own valuable experiences, and develop their own approaches. This aligns with the wider work of the coalition to promote inclusive workplaces.
We have asked the Royal Academy of Engineering, exercising its significant influence over professional institutions, industry and others, to develop a diversity programme in engineering, and also to work with science partners to reach the wider STEM work force in this activity.
Squatting
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many buildings on his Department’s estate were occupied by squatters in each year between 2006 and 2010; and on how many occasions his Department sought interim possession orders to remove squatters from such buildings in each of those years. [47618]
Mr Davey: None of the Department’s buildings have been occupied by squatters during the years 2006 to 2010.
Telephone Services
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding was allocated to the Pay and Work Rights helpline in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [47435]
Mr Davey: The Pay and Work Rights helpline was established in May 2009, and formally launched in September 2009. Actual expenditure on running the helpline in 2009/10 was £1,166,000—against an allocation of £1,200,000. This included one off development costs associated with establishing the service. Expenditure for 2010/11 is expected to be just under £850,000 against an allocation of £900,000.
The Pay and Work Rights helpline provides a valuable single point of contact for workers and employers seeking advice or wanting to report abuses of the national minimum wage, the agricultural minimum wage, the 48 hour average working week, employment agency standards and gangmaster licensing. In the 18 months
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since its launch, the helpline has received more than 140,000 calls, and referred 4,800 complaints and pieces of intelligence about potential abuses to the five enforcement bodies who stand behind the helpline.
Vocational Guidance
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he will announce the proposed division in funding between the allocations of his Department and the Department for Education to the proposed the All-Age Careers Service in 2011-12. [47370]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 17 March 2011]: We will make an announcement shortly regarding the Government’s approach to careers advice policy.
Voluntary Work and Charitable Donations
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has a policy to encourage its employees to (a) volunteer and (b) donate via payroll giving. [43230]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) encourages staff to take part in volunteering opportunities by giving paid time off.
BIS operates a ‘Give as you Earn’ policy, which allows staff to donate to charities of their choice directly from their monthly salary.
International Development
Vietnam: Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what discussions he had with the Government of Vietnam on his Department's bilateral aid to that country prior to deciding to end such bilateral aid; [47520]
(2) what consultation he has had with (a) multilateral organisations active in and (b) other bilateral donors to Vietnam on the ending of his Department's bilateral aid programme to Vietnam; and on what date each such consultation took place; [47521]
(3) in which year he expects his Department's bilateral aid programme to Vietnam to close; and what arrangements have been made for phasing the closure over a period of time. [47522]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The bilateral aid relationship between Vietnam and the UK is based on a 10-year Development Partnership Arrangement (DPA, 2006-16). Under the UK Bilateral Aid Review (BAR) process the decision was taken to end bilateral aid at the end of this DPA in 2016. The Department for International Development (DFID) will continue to support Vietnam to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets in primary education, sanitation, and HIV and AIDS, as well as focusing support on the key issues of climate change, governance and accountability, and wealth creation.
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DFID has had regular discussions with the Government of Vietnam throughout this process, including a visit by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State in June 2010. The Government of Vietnam welcomed the UK Government's decision positively, declaring our aid as highly effective. DFID also have regular dialogues with donor agencies through a number of important forums such as the Government-Donor Consultative Group meeting (most recently in December 2010), the EU Development Counsellors meeting, and the Aid Effectiveness Forum.
We will ensure the sustainability of our interventions beyond DFID's presence in Vietnam through the high level UK-Vietnam Strategic Partnership signed in September 2010.
The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Vietnam will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £65.5 million in 2008-09.
UK assistance accounted for 2.56% of the net Official Development Assistance that Vietnam received in the 2009 calendar year, the latest period for which figures are available for comparison purposes. UK support to Vietnam over this period was just over £60 million (equivalent to about $96 million), of which £4 million was debt relief.
Cameroon: Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) in which year his Department’s bilateral aid programme in Cameroon will be closed; and what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; [47563]
(2) what discussions he held with (a) the government of Cameroon, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the bilateral aid programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Cameroon his Department’s bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47644]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Bilateral Aid Review (BAR) considered which countries should receive UK bilateral aid, how much they should receive and which countries should stop receiving this aid. The decision taken in 2008 to close the UK’s bilateral programme in Cameroon was confirmed as part of the BAR process. We are continuing to discuss with the World Bank and the Government of Cameroon exit arrangements to help sustain and extend improvements in Cameroon’s forest sector management once our bilateral programme has ended. We have extended the forest governance facility until 30 September 2011 to allow remaining programme activities to be completed. We will provide funding to the World Bank in Cameroon for a senior forestry adviser until the end of 2012 to provide technical advice and policy guidance to the Government of Cameroon.
The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Cameroon will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £16 million in 2008-09.
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In 2009, Cameroon received $649 million in net official development assistance. UK bilateral aid in that year was £1.44 million (approximately $2.07 million)—less than 1% of the total.
Niger: Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) in which year his Department’s bilateral aid programme with Niger will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he had with (a) the government of Niger, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme; and on what dates; [47640]
(2) what proportion of the official development assistance received by Niger his Department’s bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [48027]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Bilateral Aid Review (BAR) considered which countries should receive UK bilateral aid, how much they should receive and which countries should stop receiving this aid. The Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) bilateral programme in Niger consisted of only one multi-donor education project, funded through the French Development Agency, which will end on 31 March 2011. The Bilateral Aid Review found that scaling up our bilateral programme in Niger, where we have no existing office, would not be cost-effective and other donors are better placed to continue working bilaterally in Niger. Discussions with the Nigerian Government and other multilateral and bilateral partners were conducted through the delegated arrangement with France. As we have done in the past, DFID remains ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Niger if justified.
The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Niger will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £29.5 million in 2008-09.
In 2009, Niger received $470 million in net official development assistance (ODA). UK bilateral aid comprised £3.96 million (approximately $5.6 million), or 1.2% of this total.
Lesotho: Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which year his Department's bilateral aid programme with Lesotho will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he held with (a) the government of Lesotho, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Lesotho his Department's bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47641]
Mr Andrew Mitchell:
The decision to close the Department for International Development's (DFID's) bilateral aid programme with Lesotho on 31 August 2011 was taken under the Bilateral Aid Review (BAR). DFID's office in Lesotho will close on 31 March 2011. All projects will come to an end as planned—none will be closed early. DFID's bilateral programme represents
22 Mar 2011 : Column 1100W
a small fraction of Lesotho's overall aid. Our experience is that such small programmes often struggle to achieve sufficient impact, Lesotho is one of the highest per capita aid recipients in Africa. Even without the DFID bilateral programme, Lesotho will continue to receive more aid per person than most African countries, including some which are far poorer in income terms.
Senior DFID officials discussed these plans with the Government of Lesotho in October 2010 and February 2011. Future funding plans of other donors were assessed prior to making our decision.
The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Lesotho will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £3.6 million in 2008-09.
In 2009-10 DFID's bilateral programme to Lesotho totalled £3.2 million. This represented 4% of the £79 million official development assistance (ODA) received by Lesotho in 2009. Total ODA to Lesotho has jumped since 2009—with local sources estimating disbursement of over £150 million during 2010.
Gambia: Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which year his Department's bilateral aid programme with Gambia will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he held with (a) the government of Gambia, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Gambia his Department's bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47642]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Bilateral Aid Review (BAR) considered which countries should receive UK bilateral aid, how much they should receive and which countries should stop receiving this aid. The decision taken in 2008 to close the UK's bilateral programme in The Gambia was confirmed as part of the BAR process. Since 2008 the UK Government have worked closely with the Government of Gambia and other donors to agree a responsible exit strategy to ensure that gains made with DFID bilateral assistance are sustained and extended into the future, including funding for a post in the European Commission office in Banjul. During the course of the review I met the Gambia Minister of Finance.
The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Gambia will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £0.9 million in 2008-09. In 2009, Gambia received $126 million in net Official Development Assistance. UK bilateral aid comprised £2.39 million (approximately $3.4 million) or 2.7% of the total.
Cambodia: Overseas Aid
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which year his Department's bilateral aid programme with Cambodia will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he held
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with
(a)
the government of Cambodia,
(b)
multilateral organisations and
(c)
other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Cambodia his Department's bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47643]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: A decision was made in 2009 to phase out the Department for International Development's (DFID) direct support to Cambodia. This was in keeping with the original plan of having an in-country presence for 10 years, and confirmed by the Bilateral Aid Review. The DFID office formally closed on 31 January 2011.
DFID agreed to honour all existing programme commitments and to exit responsibly from sectors in which we were involved. Three projects will continue beyond the life of the office with the final project scheduled to close on 31 December 2013. Management of remaining programmes has been transferred to DFID Vietnam.
DFID's bilateral spend in Cambodia for financial year 2010-11 stands at £14,555,299. This does not reflect any funding through central sources such as Civil Society Challenge Funds or Regional Research Grants etc.
Burundi: Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which year his Department’s bilateral aid programme with Burundi will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he held with (a) the government of Burundi, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Burundi his Department’s bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47645]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development's (DFID’s) bilateral aid programme in Burundi will close in March 2012. This decision was taken under the Bilateral Aid Review (BAR), which concluded that better value for money and results could be delivered through our larger existing programmes and regional support.
DFID Burundi has been working in four sectors—health, education, justice and regional integration. DFID is in discussions with the European Union (EU) to transfer programming in the health sector. The bulk of DFID’s education funding is through a joint-donor basket fund with Belgium and France, which will continue following DFID’s departure. The majority of funding for the justice sector is to an EU programme that will also continue. From 2012, DFID will concentrate exclusively on supporting Burundi’s integration into the East African Community through regional funding, as we believe this will be a critical factor in the country’s medium term growth. All remaining programmes will be coming to an end during the financial year 2011-12. No programmes will be closed early.
Discussions about the closure of the bilateral programme were held with the Government of Burundi and other partners in November 2010. Earlier discussions about the likelihood and implications of closure were held
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with the two major bilateral donors in Burundi—the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Belgian embassy—in June 2010.
The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Burundi will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £12.7 million in 2008-09.
For the calendar year 2009, the most recent year for which figures are available, DFID support comprised 2.6% of total donor aid to Burundi.
Indonesia: Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which year his Department’s bilateral aid programme with Indonesia will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he held with (a) the government of Indonesia, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Indonesia his Department’s bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47646]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Indonesia is one of the world’s fastest growing emerging economies, and over the next period will transition from a traditional aid relationship with the UK towards a new type of partnership. Under the Bilateral Aid Review, the Government decided to end the Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) bilateral aid programme in Indonesia in March 2015. DFID programme funds to Indonesia will focus on climate change and decline over the final three years in a phased approach to closure.
DFID officials consulted with the Vice-Minister of the Indonesian Ministry for Development Planning in November 2010 on DFID’s transition to a focus on climate change and to programme closure. The Government consulted on closure with representatives in Indonesia of the United Nations and of Governments of Australia, Norway and Holland during January and February 2011.
The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Indonesia will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £24.5 million in 2008-09.
The 2010 Indonesia Country Report for the Paris Declaration for Aid Effectiveness shows DFID programme funds contributed 0.4% of all bilateral aid to Indonesia in 2010.
Vietnam: Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the official development assistance received by Vietnam his Department’s bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [48028]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The latest period for which figures are available for comparison purposes is the 2009 calendar year. UK support to Vietnam over this period was just over £60 million (equivalent to about $96 million), of which £4 million was debt relief. UK assistance accounted for 2.56% of the net official development assistance that Vietnam received.
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Somalia: Overseas Aid
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to his Department’s press release of 3 February 2011, on aid to Somalia, by what means his Department plans to help up to 45,000 people into jobs in that country. [47721]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development will work with UN agencies, the World Bank and other development partners to create an estimated 45,000 long-term jobs in Somalia, over the next four years. The programme will support people working in the livestock, fisheries and agriculture sectors across Somalia. The programme will work with producers and service providers, and strengthen links between producers and local and international markets. It will also aim to improve the investment climate, initially in Somaliland. This will include helping to improve the financial sector, port management, and the way government engages with the private sector, including mobilising funds to invest in fisheries and other sectors.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to his Department’s press release of 3 February 2011, on aid to Somalia, with which organisations his Department plans to work to deliver aid to that country. [47723]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) will initially channel the majority of its funds for Somalia, from 2011-15, through the United Nations (UN), the International Committee of the Red Cross and through international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). We also expect to support Somali NGOs through international NGOs.
Our UN partners will include the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). We will also work with the World Bank.
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Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to his Department’s press release of 3 February 2011, on aid to Somalia, what proportion of the proposed increase in his Department’s aid for Somalia he estimates will be spent in (a) Somaliland, (b) Puntland and (c) southern Somalia. [47724]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has allocated £44 million to Somalia for 2011-12 and £46 million for 2012-13. Of this £90 million approximately 35% will go to Somaliland, 11% to Puntland and 54% to South-Central Somalia.
All allocations for 2013-15 will depend on results. We have provisionally allocated £80 million per year for 2013-14 and 2014-15. Of the provisional total allocation of £250 million for the period 2011-15, we plan to spend 40% in Somaliland. The remaining funds will be allocated to other parts of Somalia depending on needs, opportunities and progress.
Somalia: Politics and Government
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the merits of the recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. [47722]
Mr O'Brien: The Secretary of State for International Development is aware of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ views from discussions with the Department for International Development before the Secretary of State’s visit to Somaliland in January. The UK, like the rest of the international community, does not recognise Somaliland as an independent state. While we keep this policy under review, we continue to believe that recognition of any new arrangement should begin in the region, ideally with the Somali people themselves determining their future relationship.