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Ulster Political Research Group
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12 July (WA 118) concerning the North/South Ministerial Council Secretariat in Armagh, whether meetings were held with the Ulster Political Research Group, which included both Joint Secretaries; if so, when these meetings were held; where they were held; and for what purpose. [HL3818]
Baroness Amos: As was made clear in my answer of 12 July (WA 118), the individuals concerned attended these meetings in their capacity as officials of their respective administrations. The contacts concerned form part of the overall policy of community engagement endorsed by those administrations.
Northern Ireland: Civil Servants' Functions
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which senior civil servants in Northern Ireland are allowed to carry out activity within government other than that for which they hold an office; what are the other activities they carry out; and whether information could be supplied to Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Members of Parliament and Peers on who is working for what and when. [HL3865]
Baroness Amos: Northern Ireland civil servants are not holders of statutory offices with prescribed functions. Accordingly, they carry out any and all such functions as their employing Departments consider appropriate.
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission: Chief Commissioner
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they decided to advertise for a chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission who could be full or part-time; whether they have approached any individuals about applying for the position, directly or indirectly and, if so, whom; and whether they have decided upon the person they will appoint to the post. [HL3868]
Baroness Amos: No decision has been made as to whether the post of Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission should be full or part-time. The current chief commissioner is employed full time but, if the best candidate for the post is unable to give that time commitment, the
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Government are prepared to consider a part-time appointment.
The appointments process for a new chief commissioner is ongoing. In addition to advertising in the press, we have sought the services of consultants, Saxton Bampfylde Hever, to carry out an executive search for candidates who may be interested in applying for the post. The consultants have contacted possible candidates and alerted them to the appointments process.
It has not been decided who will be appointed to the post.
Congo Forests
Lord Eden of Winton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the World Bank and to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo about the re-zoning of the Congo forests and the expansion of industrial logging bearing in mind the need to consider the rights of the people living in the forests. [HL3930]
Baroness Amos: Officials from the Department for International Development (DfID) have been in dialogue with the World Bank about its assistance to the forestry sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). From discussions with the World Bank, DfID's understanding is that the World Bank is supporting a process designed to increase transparency within the forest sector in the DRC, and curb illegal logging.
The World Bank is working with the Government of DRC and other partners to ensure that forest activities are carried out in a sustainable manner with due regard to protection of the environment, and with participation of all stakeholders—especially the poor. A pilot of participatory forest zoning is under preparation and will involve considerable consultation with people living in forest areas. Securing the rights of local people and promoting the participation of local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in DRC is a particular focus.
DfID has also discussed possible UK Government support to strengthen natural resource governance with the Transitional National Government (TNG) in DRC and have made the TNG aware of the need to meet the provisions of the Forest Code by ensuring the rights of local communities and ensuring commercial logging contributes to national development and poverty reduction.
Afghanistan
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent United Kingdom support for civil society and local non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan will play a part in that country's
- future democratic process: and what plans they have for such support after the presidential parliamentary elections. [HL3993]
Baroness Amos: The UK has helped local groups engage with the democratic process in a number of ways. DfID supported the development of the new constitution in 2003 (£500,000). This included an outreach programme to make the wider community aware of the purpose of the constitution and provided a reasonable understanding of its key features. (DfID is now funding both Swiss Peace (£500,000) and the United Nations (over £13 million), who work in partnership with local non-governmental organisations and civil society groups, to deliver civic education in Afghanistan. This campaign aims to enhance public understanding and awareness of the electoral process, promote positive attitudes towards democracy and encourage greater participation of the public. It will continue after the October presidential elections, in order to raise awareness for the parliamentary elections in April 2005.
The UK is funding Action Aid (£157,680) to help increase both knowledge and awareness of the rights of women and women's participation in local governance in Afghanistan. Community-level women's groups are being established and small grants made available to help build the resources and confidence of women to work together to seek solutions to common problems. These activities are being supplemented and supported by training and information sharing at the provincial level and a nationwide research project looking at the role of women in local governance in Afghanistan.
DfID also funds government-led national development programmes, which are being facilitated by a range of local non-governmental organisations. An example is the National Solidarity Programme (DfID contribution was £13 million over three years), which is building the capacity of hundreds of village development councils across Afghanistan and providing the resources they need to identify and address their own development priorities.
Development Fund for Iraq
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
What responsibilities United Kingdom personnel and civil servants had for the failure of accounting systems and records within the Development Fund for Iraq, as reported in the KPMG audit; and what audits have been commissioned by the International Monitoring and Advisory Board. [HL3994]
Baroness Amos: Under UNSCR 1483, the occupying powers shared joint responsibility for the actions of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), including management of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI). Within the CPA, the DFI account was managed by the Comptroller's Office. Following approval the Comptroller's Office handled payments from the DFI and made disbursements on the basis of
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directions from the authorised DFI signatories (Administrator, Administrator's Deputy and Comptroller). No UK personnel or secondees to the CPA served in the Comptroller's Office or were an authorised signatory over the DFI account.
The International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) oversees audits conducted by international accounting firms of (i) oil export sales, (ii) the accounting for the proceeds from oil export sales, (iii) the DFI financial statements, and (iv) the disbursement procedures for DFI resources. In March 2004 the IAMB approved the CPA's appointment of KPMG to conduct audits in two stages: first, for DFI activities through December 2003, which reported on 15 July, and, secondly, for the six-month period ended June 2004, which is currently under way.
The IAMB has also taken a decision to conduct a special aduit of sole sourced contracts funded from the Development Fund for Iraq. The IAMB is expected to decide over the coming weeks if other special audits or investigations into the use of DFI assets are required.
Baroness Williams of Crosby asked Her Majesty's Government:
In light of recent reports by Iraq Revenue Watch, when full accounts will be published showing revenues, allocation and spending from the Development Fund for Iraq; and in particular whether they will request the United States administration to comply with International Advisory and Monitoring Board requests for information about payments of 1.5 billion dollars from the Development Fund to Halliburton. [HL4013]
Baroness Amos: A full audit of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) from 22 May 2003 to 31 December 2003 has been published, and is available on the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) website. KPMG is currently auditing the DFI from 1 January 2004 to 28 June 2004. The report will be published on completion. Information on revenues, allocation and spending from the DFI can be found on the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) website at http://www.cpa-iraq.org/budget/.
The IAMB is proceeding with a special audit of Development Fund for Iraq sole sourced contracts. The results from this will be available in due course. The UK Government fully support the work of the IAMB.
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