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12 May 2004 : Column 371W—continued
Pipeline Revenues
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what safeguards are in place to ensure that revenues received by the countries through which the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline runs will receive will not be used to finance regional conflicts. [172416]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: The BTC pipeline has the potential to deliver substantial economic benefits to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and it will strengthen regional co-operation, developing new economic and political links between the three host countries. All the international parties involved in the BTC pipeline (including BTC Co., EBRD and IFC) are keen to make sure that the revenues generated by the project do not exacerbate regional tensions. Mitigation measures are already in place, including an IMF approved oil fund in Azerbaijan, a commitment by BP to publish what it pays to the host Governments and support by the World Bank and IMF on budgeting and public expenditure management. Furthermore, Azerbaijan is in the first wave of countries to begin to implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The EITI aims to increase the transparency of payments by extractives companies to Governments, as well as the transparency of revenues received by those host countries. Increasing transparency is a key component to reducing poverty, corruption, and the potential for conflict. The UK Government are helping Azerbaijan implement EITI, whereby BTC revenues are channelled through the State Oil Fund to ensure that the people of Azerbaijan benefit. We are also in discussions with the Government of Georgia on the possibility of their involvement in the EITI.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) when he will report progress on the Millennium Development Goal for the reduction in the proportion of 15 to 24-year-old pregnant women with HIV; [171676]
(2) when data will be available for the measurement of his Department's targets on HIV/AIDS policy in Africa. [171683]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: The data for monitoring progress towards the target for a reduction in the proportion of 15 to 24-year-old pregnant women with HIV from a 16 per cent. prevalence rate is collected by the United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). UNAIDS will publish their Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic containing this data in Summer 2004.
The data will enable us to update progress towards DFID's Public Service Delivery target for HIV/AIDS (as stated above) in 16 key African countries. It will be published in the Department's Autumn Performance Report later in the year.
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Small Arms
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the progress of the National Small Arms Action Plans in Southern African countries. [171677]
Hilary Benn: Under the joint DFID/FCO/MoD Global Conflict Prevention Pool Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Strategy the UK Government have been supporting, since February 2003, a programme to conduct in-depth assessments of small arms issues. The aim is to develop and implement National Action Plans (NAPs) in four East and Southern African countries to address the problem of the proliferation and illicit trafficking of SALW. The NGOs Saferworld and SaferAfrica are undertaking the work together with national Governments and local civil society organisations in Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia and Uganda.
This process is most advanced in East Africa where a draft NAP is with the Kenyan National Security Council for approval. In the Southern African states of Mozambique and Namibia the process is not as advanced. In Namibia the preparatory phase commenced in late 2003 and the mapping process only began last month. In Mozambique the process has been delayed due to a variety of local circumstances, and the timetable is currently being re-assessed.
Although no formal assessments have yet been undertaken due to the preparatory nature of the work in Southern Africa, DFID is committed to evaluating what progress has been made and the effectiveness of the National Action Plans overall at the appropriate stages in the process. The NAPs will be regularly reviewed through on-going reports from the field and by undertaking more formal assessments as part of on-going programme management. An external review of the programme in East Africa is planned for June and this will guide future evaluations of the work in Southern Africa.
Sustainable Development
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on his Department's sustainable development strategy. [165431]
Hilary Benn: The International Development Act (2002) makes it clear that development assistance is
"assistance provided for the purposes of furthering Sustainable Development . . . "
It is also generally recognised that poverty reduction is a necessary prerequisite for achieving Sustainable Development. For this reason, DFID does not have a stand-alone Sustainable Development Strategy but rather considers Sustainable Development to be integral to the Department's work.
DFID leads on four specific areas in the UK's implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.
Water and Sanitation.
Integration of environmental considerations into Poverty Reduction Strategies.
Access to clean energy.
(Together with the Treasury) Financing for development.
DFID has completed a review of its water related activities and prepared a Water Action Plan reaffirming the importance of water resource management, supply and sanitation to poverty reduction.
DFID, along with other Departments, has been contributing to the consultation process currently underway to develop a new UK Sustainable Development Strategy. DFID shares the lead on developing the international dimensions of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy with the Foreign Office.
At a recent consultation meeting held during the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) organised to solicit the views of international agency representatives on the UK's Sustainable Development track record, DFID and the UK were praised for leadership in developing a better understanding of the links between poverty and environment. DFID's work has emphasised the importance of prudent environmental management to achieving poverty reduction and the other Millennium Development Goals.
DFID'S lead role in developing policy and implementation guidance on national strategies for sustainable development/poverty reduction strategies was also cited as an outstanding contribution to international Sustainable Development progress.
DFID's programmes with developing country partners are shaped by the priorities of those countries, what other donors are doing and where value can be added. These priorities are set out in developing countries' own development plans. DFID has been working with developing country partners to ensure sustainable development considerations underwrite these strategies if they are to be effective.
In addition to meeting the UK's own domestic obligations as signatories to various multilateral environmental agreements, the UK assists developing countries meet their own commitments.
For example, climate change is considered to be a key development issue because it is poor people and developing countries that are most vulnerable to its adverse impacts. DFID and other Departments, in partnership with developing countries, are considering options for a global carbon dioxide emissions reduction regime including the necessary incentive to encourage a transition away from carbon intensive economies.
DFID has made good progress towards the targets set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. This framework relates to the impact of our offices on the environment. DFID has published delivery plans, used alternatively fuelled vehicles, re-cycle more than 40 per cent. of our waste, purchase more than 50 per cent. green electricity and paper with a 75 per cent. recycled content. DFID is also one of the few departments to meet the water usage targets.
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DFID's current building project at our office in East Kilbride achieved a Bream award with an "excellent " environmental rating and we have conducted an audit of local habitat and species. DFID has also built volunteering into our staff development planning.
Zimbabwe
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how many representations his Department has received in 2004 on political manipulation of EU-funded food aid by the Zimbabwean Government; and when his Department will publish the results of the investigation announced in February into the alleged misappropriation of UK and EU aid; [171350]
(2) how many representations his Department has received in 2004 on UK and EU aid to Zimbabwe not being spent for humanitarian purposes; [171351]
(3) how many formal meetings his Department had in April with the World Food Programme regarding food aid to Zimbabwe; and whether the Zimbabwean Government's refusal of food aid formed part of discussions. [171352]
Hilary Benn: The risk of politicisation of humanitarian assistance, particularly food aid, has been regularly discussed in Parliament and with our international partners. As a result, significant emphasis is placed on monitoring incidents of political interference in the provision of humanitarian assistance.
Humanitarian assistance provided by the European Union and UK to Zimbabwe is channelled through UN agencies and NGOs. In collaboration with those agencies, DFID operates a policy of zero tolerance towards political interference—including political manipulation of aid—in humanitarian operations. The UN and DFID's NGO partners have procedures in place for those affected to report irregularities. Any such incidents are quickly identified, reported and followed up, including by suspending food distribution where appropriate. As a result of these measures, there has been minimal interference with international assistance. DFID and other donors and agencies also use the media when appropriate to publicise our activities and to explain the extent of donor support to Zimbabwe during the present crisis.
My reply to the hon. Member of Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 15 March 2004, Official Report, column 25W, set out the position on the report by the European Court of Auditors on the effectiveness of EC aid to Zimbabwe. There was no DFID announcement of a further investigation.
UK programmes in Zimbabwe provide both humanitarian assistance and support for the fight against HIV/AIDS. EC programmes provide humanitarian assistance and support for a range of social programmes. The EC and DFID have well established systems in place to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those for whom it is intended. DFID has not received any representation in 2004 on misuse of either UK or EC humanitarian assistance.
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The DFID office in Zimbabwe is in close contact with the World Food Programme (WFP) and meets regularly with WFP, NGOs and other donors to discuss issues affecting WFP's operations.
The Government of Zimbabwe's decision not to make an immediate appeal to the United Nations for general food distributions is of concern to the humanitarian community. Although the Government of Zimbabwe appear confident of a good harvest there is considerable divergence of views on the crop forecast. The Government also remain unwilling to discuss with the international community what stocks they hold, and what volume of grains they expect to import to meet any deficit in domestic supply. Without an appeal WFP will face difficulty in planning, securing donor funding for and implementing emergency operations beyond the coming months when existing agreements and stocks will run out. DFID will continue to monitor the situation closely in collaboration with WFP and other partners.
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