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Departmental Spending Review
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans her Department has to appraise the environmental implications of its spending review submission to the Treasury. [28997]
Mr. Wilson [holding answer 21 January 2002]: In line with HM Treasury's guidelines, DTI will submit a Sustainable Development report (SDR) in which the Department will explain the sustainable development implications of the Department's proposals. As part of the spending review, the Department will also consider how its PSA targets relate to sustainable development and summarise how sustainable development has influenced the Department's priorities.
Export Credits
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 103W, on the Export Credits Guarantees Department, what estimate she has made of the savings produced by refinancing; over what period of time she expects these to be realised and under which Vote; and if she will make a statement. [29692]
Nigel Griffiths: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18 January 2002, Official Report, column 508W.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the objections made by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to US proposals
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on greater transparency at the recently concluded OECD negotiations on common approaches to officially supported export credits and the environment. [29408]
Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 22 January 2002]: At the June 2001 meeting of the OECD Export Credit Group the USA rejected latest proposals of the common approaches recommendation as they did not "require" Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) to make public environmental impact information relating to projects being reviewed by ECAs before the ECA reaches its decision on supporting a project.
ECGD would have been content to discuss this issue further and was successful with its proposal that the following wording should be included:
- "Members are expected to encourage project sponsors to make environmental impact information publicly available".
Given the significance of the issues that could be agreed and the commitment to review the agreement by the end of 2003
- "to enhance it in the light of experience",
ECGD concluded that this agreement was a good first step in order to cement the progress made.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library a list of the (a) projects and (b) companies supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department since 1 January 2001. [29410]
Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 22 January 2002]: A list of guarantees issued in the financial year 2000–01 was provided in ECGD's annual report and resource Accounts 2000–01 and is shown in the table. Details of overseas investment insurance and other insurances are treated as commercial-in-confidence by ECGD and are thus not given here. ECGD requires exporters' consent to publish guarantee details and will be writing after the end of this financial year to seek this consent for guarantees issued in 2001–02.
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Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make environmental and social impact assessments of the Yusefeli Dam available for public discussion before a final decision is taken on extending export credit support to Amec. [29407]
Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 22 January 2002]: An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) has been conducted and we expect that a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) will also be produced. Prior to making any final decision for ECGD support, the Government would need to be satisfied that such reports have taken into account best international practice.
The EIAR is not the property of the UK Government, and its release by ECGD would require the consent of the party who has supplied it to ECGD. Such considerations would also apply to the RAP when that document is produced in due course.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Export Credits Guarantee Department will take to implement the recommendation for public discussion contained in the OECD agreement on common approaches to officially supported export credits and the environment. [29427]
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Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 22 January 2002]: The recommendations for public discussion in the Common Approaches on Environment and Officially Supported Export Credits are:
- "Members are expected to:
Publish national ECA environmental statements/principles and procedural guidance. ECGD published its "Statement of Business Principles" in December 2000. A "Case Handling Process—Information Note" and the "Impact Questionnaire" were placed on ECGD's website in January 2001.
When appropriate, exchange views with stakeholders. ECGD consulted stakeholders during the development of the "Statement of Business Principles" and is about to launch a formal review of the "Impact Questionnaire" and the case impact analysis process.
Encourage project sponsors to make environmental impact information publicly available. For greenfield projects in sensitive sectors or locations ECGD normally expects an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be carried out. Best practice for EIAs includes consultation with the affected communities and in many counties the EIA legislation requires this. ECGD expects project developers to take account of best practice in the preparation of EIAs.
Make available to the public at least annually, subject to legal provisions on public disclosure in members' countries, information on projects classified in Categories A and B. ECGD's latest annual report contains details of all the guarantees issued, irrespective of environmental category, during the financial year 2000–01. It is intended to provide this information, on a quarterly basis, on the ECGD website during 2002".
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