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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 31 March 1999
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Debt Relief
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanisms her Department is developing to ensure that the proceeds of debt relief are invested in measures aimed at reducing poverty. [79519]
Clare Short: I strongly agree that the resources freed up by debt relief need to be invested in poverty reduction programmes if we are to achieve the international development targets, including halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. We are pressing for the link between debt relief and poverty reduction to be examined and strengthened during the fundamental review of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, which is underway.
HIPC debt relief is available only to countries following programmes agreed with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. We are working with these organisations to ensure that programmes are designed to promote high quality growth, and that the resources freed up by debt relief are allocated to poverty reduction programmes. Following last year's review of IMF's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF), we are working with the Fund to ensure that more priority is given to the social impact of programmes, and that more attention is paid to including civil society in the design of programmes, to increase their poverty impact.
In addition, following proposals put forward by the UK, the World Bank is developing a set of general principles of good practice in social policy in consultation with the IMF. We envisage these principles should be drawn upon by the IMF and the World Bank in the design of programmes, to ensure that they protect and promote spending on health and education.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is currently giving to developing countries to improve the quality of primary education. [79531]
Clare Short:
Our education programmes for developing countries in support of the international goals of universal primary education and gender equity in primary and secondary education include agreements on policies which ensure that our assistance has a beneficial and sustainable effect, and that quality is not compromised in pursuit of the quantified development targets.
Where required, we provide technical assistance to address quality issues such as teacher training and the curriculum, and make substantial contributions to quality
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in the form of books and learning materials. In Uganda and India, we are supporting the development of appropriate and good quality schools and classroom learning environments as part of our wider support to primary education in those countries.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to developing countries to meet the target of universal primary education by 2015; and what progress has been made to date. [79524]
Clare Short:
In our White Paper we undertook to seek to meet the target of universal primary education by 2015. We have committed over £200 million to basic education in a number of countries including Ghana, India, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and our largest ever single education pledge of £67 million for Uganda. These and substantial new programmes under development will contribute to the international target for universal primary education. It is too early to report progress towards the development goals. DFID programmes cannot be measured in isolation. Progress will be monitored through international education statistics collated and published by UNESCO and other multilateral organisations, including the OECD.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to increase the proportion of bi-lateral aid invested in primary education. [79518]
Clare Short:
As we set out in our White paper, we are committed to the international development targets, including Universal Primary Education by 2015. In the Government's first year in office (1997/98), we spent over £13 million of bilateral funds on primary education. This was an increase of £5 million over the previous year. Subsequent major commitments of over £200 million, plus new programmes currently being developed in a number of countries, amounting to at least £200 million will substantially increase the proportion of our bilateral assistance invested in primary education.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress to date towards the achievement of the international development goal of gender equality in education. [79520]
Clare Short:
As we made clear in our White Paper in November 1997, we are committed to the international goals of universal primary education by 2015 and gender equity in primary and secondary education by 2005.
We have committed over £200 million to basic education in a number of countries including Ghana, India, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and our largest ever single education pledge of £67 million for Uganda. These and other new programmes under development are a reflection of our understanding--based on strong evidence--that investment in the education of girls is the single, most effective way to reduce poverty.
We are committed to supporting governments that give priority to the education of girls within their education systems. It is too early to report progress towards the
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development goals. DFID programmes cannot be measured in isolation and progress towards the education development targets will be monitored through international education statistics collated and published by UNESCO and other multilateral organisations, including work by the OECD on indicators of development.
Sir Alastair Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent scientific re-assessment she has received of volcanic risks in Montserrat; and if she will make a statement. [79060]
Clare Short:
The latest volcanic assessment was undertaken earlier this month. The review concluded that there has been no resumption of magmatic eruption since March 1998, and that risk levels of a major volcanic eruption are now similar to those in other Caribbean volcanic islands.
I have placed copies of the full report in the Libraries of the House.
Dr. Tony Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list all those task forces and policy reviews with external members established by her Department since May 1997 which have set up (a) sub-groups, (b) working parties and (c) other subsidiary committees. [79255]
Clare Short:
There are no bodies which fall into these categories.
Dr. Tony Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list for all task forces and policy reviews with external members established by her Department since May 1997 (a) their dates of establishment, (b) those which have issued final reports and their dates of publication, (c) those which have been terminated and their dates of termination and (d) for those bodies still in existence, expected reporting and termination dates. [79278]
Clare Short:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 13.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government to provide aid to (a) Kazakhstan and (b) other former Soviet republics to tackle the effects of radioactive fallout from Soviet military testing. [79545]
Clare Short:
Following discussions with the Kazakh authorities, the Department for International Development has plans to support a community based land-use plan for the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan. We plan to implement the project later this year after consultation with representatives of provincial government, local communities, NGOs, and central Government in Kazakhstan.
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There are no other former Soviet republics receiving aid to tackle the effects of radioactive fallout from Soviet military testing.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which officials had discussions with GJW, on how many occasions and on what dates, concerning the wish by Cape plc to amend the Access to Justice [Lords] Bill to ban foreign workers suffering from asbestosis obtaining legal aid. [78740]
Clare Short:
No officials in my Department have had any discussions with G. J. Ward concerning any wish by Cape plc to amend the Access to Justice [Lords] Bill.
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