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Written Answers
Tuesday, 23rd July 2002.
NEPAD
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What new resources they intend to commit to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) agreed at the G8 Summit in Kananaskis. [HL5110]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): Over the course of the last year, a number of African leaders have been working together to draw up the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) which seeks to put in place the policies necessary in Africa for sustainable development. In response to this initiative, G8 leaders prepared an Africa Action Plan, which was finalised at the G8 Summit in Kananaskis.
The G8 plan includes a commitment that half or more of the new development funds announced at Monterrey (ie 6 billion dollars) could be used in African countries, but only if they put the NEPAD principles into practice and create the right policy environment.
NEPAD itself is not a funding mechanism, and is not envisaged as a body that will implement projects. It is not therefore something that the UK will fund directly.
We are, though committed to increasing significantly the levels of development assistance provided to Africa. We have already doubled our bilateral assistance to Africa since 1997, and will increase it by a further 50 per cent so that by 2006 we will be spending £1 billion in Africa each year.
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action will be taken under the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) agreed at the G8 Summit in Kananaskis to reduce the debt burden of African countries and to improve trade links between Africa and G8 countries. [HL5111]
Baroness Amos: Over the course of the last year, a number of African leaders have been working together to draw up the New Partnership for Africa's Development which seeks to put in place the policies necessary in Africa for sustainable development. In response to this initiative, G8 leaders prepared an Africa Action Plan, which was finalised at the G8 Summit in Kananaskis. As part of this, G8 leaders agreed their commitment to ensure the full financing of the enhanced heavily indebted poor countries initiative and that up to an extra 1 billion US dollars should be provided for the HIPC Trust Fund. G8 leaders also "reaffirmed their commitment to conclude negotiations no later than 1 January 2005 on further trade liberalisation in the Doha round of multilateral
trade negotiations taking full account of the particular circumstances, needs and requirements of developing countries, including in Africa". In addition, G8 countries will work toward the objective of duty free and quota free access for all products originating from least developed countries.The full version of the Africa Action Plan; which gives further details on these and other areas, has been placed in the House Library.
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are entirely satisfed with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) agreed at the G8 Summit at Kananaskis. (HL5112]
Baroness Amos: The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is an African initiative that sets out a framework for conflict resolution and sustainable development in Africa. At Kananaskis, the G8 agreed on an Action Plan for Africa as an initial response to NEPAD. The plan is a good first step in what we see as a long-term process of building a new partnership with Africa. There is more to be done to implement the commitments expressed by both the Africans and the G8.
Diplomatic Missions: Minor Traffic Violation Fines
Lord Dixon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many outstanding parking and other minor traffic violation fines were incurred by diplomatic missions during the year ending 31 December 2001. [HL5343]
Baroness Amos: Unpaid parking and minor traffic violation fines—2001—diplomatic vehicles.
| Diplomatic mission International organisation | No of fines outstanding | Amount |
| Angola | 1,088 | £44,470,00 |
| United Arab Emirates | 287 | £14,150,00 |
| Libya | 222 | £10,710,00 |
| China | 156 | £6,400,00 |
| Egypt | 151 | £7,030,00 |
| Mozambique | 147 | £5,940,00 |
| Iran | 140 | £8,250,00 |
| Ukraine | 140 | £7,949,00 |
| Qatar | 122 | £5,790,00 |
| Greece | 111 | £5,650,00 |
| Ghana | 96 | £4,090,00 |
| France | 95 | £5,330,00 |
| Turkey | 87 | £4,980,00 |
| Algeria | 69 | £3,840,00 |
| Morocco | 68 | £3,830,00 |
| Zambia | 64 | £3,710,00 |
| Russia | 51 | £2,800,00 |
| Ethiopia | 47 | £1,990,00 |
| Jamaica | 43 | £2,670,00 |
| Jordan | 42 | £2,480,00 |
| International Maritime Organisation | 40 | £2,000,00 |
| Vietnam | 40 | £2,280,00 |
| Cyprus | 39 | £1,790,00 |
| Mongolia | 39 | £2,630,00 |
| Georgia | 38 | £2,250,00 |
| Brunei | 37 | £1,540,00 |
| Kazakhstan | 37 | £2,180,00 |
| Philippines | 37 | £2,000,00 |
| Albania | 35 | £1,430,00 |
| Afghanistan | 34 | £1,940,00 |
| Hungary | 32 | £1,390,00 |
| Poland | 31 | £1,250,00 |
| Bahrain | 30 | £1,650,00 |
| Malaysia | 30 | £1,360,00 |
| Yemen | 30 | £1,410,00 |
| Pakistan | 29 | £1,680,00 |
| Peru | 29 | £1,680,00 |
| United States of America | 27 | £1,010,00 |
| Cuba | 26 | £950,00 |
| Oman | 26 | £3,010,00 |
| Portugal | 25 | £3,550,00 |
| Dominican Republic | 23 | £1,390,00 |
| Romania | 22 | £1,140,00 |
| Rwanda | 20 | £850,00 |
| Tunisia | 20 | £1,200,00 |
| Uganda | 20 | £,840,00 |
| Kenya | 19 | £730,00 |
| Sierra Leone | 19 | £2,120,00 |
| Commonwealth Secretariat | 18 | £1,400,00 |
| Kuwait | 16 | £6,810,00 |
| Sudan | 16 | £760,00 |
| Cote D'Ivoire | 15 | £1,810,00 |
| Barbados | 15 | £600,00 |
| Belgium | 15 | £780,00 |
| Brazil | 14 | £950,00 |
| Zimbabwe | 14 | £560,00 |
| Mexico | 13 | £1,210,00 |
| Spain | 13 | £1,050,00 |
| Germany | 12 | £540,00 |
| Bulgaria | 11 | £670,00 |
| Gabon | 11 | £780,00 |
| Uzbekistan | 11 | £470,00 |
| 4,254 | 217,699 |
Diplomatic Missions NNDR
Lord Dixon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom owed more than £10,000 as of the 5 April in respect of national non-domestic rates (NNDR) for office premises.[HL5344]
Baroness Amos: Most diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom meet their obligations and pay the NNDR requested from them. However, as at 5 April 2002, the following missions owed over £10,000 in respect of NNDR:
| Country | Amount |
| Bulgaria | £117,511.13 |
| Iran | 97,352.55 |
| Sierra Leone | 48,274.76 |
| Algeria | 43,194.62 |
| Mozambique | 31,116.14 |
| Cameroon | 27,646.19 |
| Uganda | 24,760.37 |
| Bangladesh | 20,636.91 |
| Syria | 20,004.66 |
| Zambia | 19,276.56 |
| Senegal | 14,600.98 |
| Jordan | 13,154.29 |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 12,066.16 |
| Total | £489,595.32 |
Eleven additional diplomatic missions which each owe more than £10,000 in respect of NNDR have made arrangements with the Valuation Office Agency to clear their outstanding debts have not been included in the list. These 11 missions owe £729,731.66. The total amount outstanding from all missions, therefore, is £1,219,326.98
Lord Harris of Haringey asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): I have today laid before the House the Public Guardianship Office's annual report and accounts for 2001–02 which gives full details of the agency's performance and expenditure for that year.
Lord Harris of Haringey asked the Lord Chancellor:
The Lord Chancellor: Justice for All presented to Parliament on 17 July set out our policy on reform of the criminal justice system. We made clear that we are indebted to Sir Robin Auld and John Halliday for their extensive and thorough review of the criminal courts and sentencing policy. Today we publish a detailed resonse to all their recommendations and I have placed copies in the Library of the House.
Lord Gordon of Strathblane asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Lord Chancellor: For the assistance of noble Lords I have today placed in the Library of each House a list which sets out briefly the current functions of my department.
When the annual report and accounts for 2001–02 of the Public Guardian Office will be laid before Parliament.[HL5487]
When the Government expect to publish a detailed response to Sir Robin Auld's Review of the Criminal Courts of England and Wales and John Halliday's of Making Punishments Work—a Review of the Sentencing Framework for England and Wales.[HL5488]
Whether they will make an announcement on the recent changes in the functions of the Lord Chancellor's Department.[HL5489]
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