To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the government of South Africa on the hardship caused to the citizens of that country and adjoining nation states as a result of recent substantial power cuts affecting the region. (188666)

[holding answer 25 February 2008]: The government of South Africa is acutely aware of the impact of power cuts and our high commission in Pretoria is following the situation. In his 20 February budget, Finance Minister Manuel allocated a further £60 billion Rand for energy infrastructure investment. The South African government has also committed itself to launch a large-scale energy saving campaign in the near future. At the Southern Africa Development Community Energy Ministers meeting last week, South Africa agreed to honour her contractual obligations with regard to the power supply to the rest of the region.