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Written Answers

Volume 648: debated on Thursday 15 May 2003

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Written Answers

Thursday, 15th May 2003.

G8 Meeting, Evian, 1 To 3 June 2003

Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:What priority they will give to the war on world poverty at the forthcoming G8 meeting in Evian, France, from 1 to 3 June, with particular reference to:

  • (a) fair trade and the elimination of the dumping of subsidised goods in Africa and other parts of the developing world;
  • (b) debt cancellation in fulfilment of the commitments made at the last G8 meeting; and
  • (c) the honouring of all existing undertakings on aid, including education. [HL2684]

    • The Secretary of State for International Development
    (Baroness Amos)

    We believe that the G8 has an important role to play in promoting poverty elimination. At their summit on 1 to 3 June, the G8 will discuss a number of development issues. On the specific issues mentioned:

  • (a) Regarding trade, the Government remain fully committed to fulfilling the bold and ambitious development agenda set out in Doha in November 2001. Progress to date has been disappointingly slow, however, we are working with all our partners, including those in the G8, to ensure a successful mid-term WTO ministerial conference in Cancun in September. Regarding agriculture specifically, the Government remain committed to substantial improvements in market access, reductions of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies, and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support.
  • (b) On debt cancellation, our main priority remains the full implementation and financing of the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. At the last meeting in Kananaskis, in June 2002, the G8 agreed to the UK proposal to fund their share of the shortfall of up to 1 billion US dollars needed to fully finance the HIPC initiative. We welcome the positive outcome of the World Bank HIPC financing meeting in Paris in October that year; pledges worth some 850 million US dollars were secured for the HIPC Trust Fund to meet the existing shortfall, and the additional top-up needed at completion point, to ensure that countries exit the HIPC process with sustainable levels of debt. We also welcome the general consensus that the overall replenishment should be around 1 billion US dollars to finance fully the HIPC initiative. It will be important that pledges now turn into commitments and that those non-G8 countries yet to pledge do so quickly. The UK has pledged 95 million US dollars plus our share of EC contributions.
  • (c) The G8 made pledges on polio, Global Health Fund, Africa Action Plan and Education Task Force:
  • (i) This year has seen a scaling back of polio eradication activities in critical areas, due to inadequate funding. Polio is on the verge of being eradicated in Africa, and indeed globally. The funding gap to achieve eradication is small (275 million dollars globally), to which the UK has committed 25 million dollars. We are urging other G8 partners to deliver on their G8 commitments urgently.
  • (ii) The G8 agreed in Okinawa to aggressive new targets for AIDS, TB and malaria control matched by a commitment of African heads of state in Abuja. The UN General Assembly Special Session on AIDS concluded with agreement to create and support a global fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which the G8 financed with 1.8 billion dollars of initial capital at their meeting in Genoa. The UK believes the fund adds value through its ability to deliver donor coherence, support for national health systems and its ability to purchase drugs and commodities in bulk and to establish reliability of supply. UK has pledged 200 million dollars to the fund over five years-80 million dollars of which has been disbursed.
  • (iii) The UK is committed to providing 0.4 per cent of GNI in ODA and increasing bilateral assistance to Africa to £1 billion by 2005–06. G8 progress will be discussed at the Evian summit. Africa personal representatives will be producing a progress report for the Evian summit, which will outline the G8 members' aid spending in Africa.
  • (iv) Education remains a priority for the UK and existing undertakings will be honoured. Between 2002 and 2007 we expect to spend £1.3 billion on the achievement of universal primary education (UPE) provided that we can agree quality programmes with our partners. We will work with G8 partners to ensure increased support and resources to meet the education MDGs.

    • Iraq

    Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government

    What estimates have been made of the cost of providing an effective penal system in a rehabilitated Iraq; and what measures they are advocating to ensure the generation of the necessary resources and qualified personnel, and [HL2685]What estimates have been made of the cost of providing an effective system for the administration of justice in a rehabilitated Iraq; and what measures they are advocating to ensure the generation of the necessary resources and qualified personnel. and [HL2686]

    What estimates have been made of the cost of providing an effective civil police system in a rehabilitated Iraq: and what measures they are advocating to ensure the generation of the necessary resources and qualified personnel. [HL2687]

    Baroness Amos

    No estimates have yet been made of the cost of providing an effective penal, justice or police system in a rehabilitated Iraq.The Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Affairs (ORHA) and others are to conduct a six-week assessment of a number of aspects of the justice sector in Iraq. This will include a review of police and prisons functions and facilities as well as the different individual components of the justice sector. On the basis of this study an estimate of the costs to provide an effective justice system in Iraq will be possible. The UK is participating in the assessment mission. While it is ORHA's responsibility to make any changes needed to keep the justice system functioning in the short term, a UN mandate for reconstruction will be required before more substantial reforms can be implemented.DfID is actively considering how best to contribute to the provision of an effective security sector in Iraq, building on recent experience in Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Kosovo.

    Offending Rates And Social Security Benefits/Sanctions

    Lord Addington asked Her Majesty's Government

    What is the difference in the rate of offending among those in receipt of full social security benefits and those subject to benefits and those subject to benefit sanctions. [HL2710]

    The Minister of State, Home Office
    (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)

    The information is not available.

    Suicide

    Baroness Masham of Ilton asked Her Majesty's Government

    What plans they have to prevent the use of the internet to promote suicide. [HL2603]

    Baroness Andrews

    The Government deplore the use of the internet to promote suicide. The Department of Health will investigate the legality and feasibility of censoring websites which promote suicide. We are also working to promote the responsible representation of suicidal behaviour in the media as part of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England.