asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the light of the ActionAid report HIV/AIDS in Afghanistan, which calls for co-ordinated international support for the National AIDS Control Programme, they will propose a review of the World Health Organisation's AIDS-related assistance to Afghanistan. [HL372]

The ActionAid report on HIV/AIDS in Afghanistan is a very welcome contribution to the body of knowledge on the disease in Afghanistan. We agree with the overall conclusion that while Afghanistan does not yet have a large number of reported cases, there is a need to take action now, before it is too late to make a difference to the course of the epidemic.

The proposal in the report for international organisations and NGOs to provide co-ordinated support to the National Aids Control Programme makes good sense and we would expect the small number of donors involved in this sector to respond positively to this suggestion. DfID is not directly engaged in HIV/AIDS or the wider health sector in Afghanistan, and therefore not in a position to judge whether there is a need to review the World Health Organisation’s AIDS-related assistance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What immediate efforts and contributions they are making to assist the survivors of the recent cyclone in Bangladesh. [HL368]

Relief efforts are being led by the Government of Bangladesh, with international support being led by the United Nations. Seventy per cent of the affected areas have now been reached. However, more needs to be done in order to assist the huge numbers in need. The UK Government have announced a contribution of £2.5 million for immediate cyclone relief efforts, channelled through the United Nations Development Programme, to provide food, safe water, medical treatment and housing repairs. In addition, we will consider our response to additional needs identified once damage and needs assessments have been carried out by the Government of Bangladesh and the UN.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What aid they have arranged following the recent cyclone in Bangladesh. [HL398]

On 20 November 2007 my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development announced a contribution of £2.5 million for immediate cyclone relief efforts (Official Report, col. WS105). This has been channelled through the United Nations Development Programme to provide food, safe water, medical treatment, and housing repairs. In addition, we are providing support through some of our existing development programmes in Bangladesh, including £500,000 through the Health, Nutrition, and Population Sector Programme to procure immediate medical supplies. We will consider our response to additional needs identified once damage and needs assessments have been carried out by the Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the contributions they make to the World Bank International Development Association fund will have a bearing on whether they decide to support the European Union's negotiating position at the World Climate Change Conference in Bali in December. [HL222]

The World Bank has no formal role in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations—it attends as an observer. As such, it will not have the opportunity to support the EU or any other party.

The EU's negotiating position for Bali includes a focus on assisting developing countries to tackle the challenges raised by climate change. This includes helping them to move to low-carbon development strategies and to adapt to the impact of climate change. The International Development Association and the rest of the World Bank group have an important role in assisting developing countries in tackling these challenges and promoting sustainable low-carbon growth to tackle poverty. IDA and the other international financial institutions are important sources of finance, analysis and expertise to assist developing countries to tackle climate change, access carbon finance and prepare themselves for a post-2012 future framework.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

Whether he will consider replacing the packaging used to forward correspondence to Members during recesses with something that is (a) recyclable, and (b) easier to open. [HL638]

It came to light during the 2007 Summer Recess that the mail pouches provided to forward mail from the House were faulty, with the perforations positioned directly along the adhesive strip. Action has been taken to acquire a new type of pouch with the perforations positioned away from the adhesive strip to enable the pouch to be opened easily. To ensure that full or heavy pouches do not fall apart in transit the perforation is made on only one side of the pouch. The pouches are made from fully recyclable polythene.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in funding public bodies in countries where there are indigenous or tribal people, the Department for International Development has regard to its compliance with the International Labour Organisation's Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries. [HL412]

In funding public bodies in any country DfID takes into account issues of discrimination, social exclusion and human rights. This includes countries with indigenous and tribal people.

Although DfID does not have specific regard to ILO Convention 169 in its aid partnerships, it does have regard to the broadly similar human rights standards in the principal international treaties, such as the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. UK aid partnerships are based on a shared commitment with partner countries to respect human rights. In fulfilling this commitment, DfID complies with international standards which set out the rights of all people, including indigenous and tribal people. The rights in the main international conventions, which are similar to ILO Convention 169, include the right to freedom from discrimination, the right to health and education, the right to participation in public life and the right to respect for cultural life.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they last discussed with the Governments of Israel and Palestine the situation of the estimated 100,000 people in Israel and 230,000 in Palestine without access to drinkable piped water supplies; whether multilateral plans exist to meet these needs; and, if so, whether the quartet will call for and assist their implementation. [HL194]

DfID has not discussed the specific problem of access to piped water with the Palestinian Authority. We have, though, held meetings with PA officials to discuss vital issues around water in July. We will meet again at the end of November as part of a regular dialogue.

The EC committed over £250,000 in 2007 to improve water supply in the West Bank. PA plans for the water sector will be set out in the forthcoming Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PRDP). The quartet will call for financial support to the PRDP at the donor conference in December and will assist its implementation.

The UK does not have a development programme in Israel as it is a high-income country.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many days for each of the last three years individual Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels have been operational. [HL255]

During nearly all its time spent at sea, Royal Fleet Auxiliary is operationally deployed in contributing to a range of standing or contingent military tasks, meeting commitments such as those to the NATO reaction forces, or engaging in maritime security operations. Thus all sea time is operational except time spent on basic sea safety training and post-refit trials, neither of which is included in the figures below.

In this context the number of days that each RFA vessel has been operational in each of the last three financial years is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made representations to the Government of Pakistan regarding the suspension of the constitution there. [HL445]

We have repeatedly urged that constitutional order be restored as soon as possible. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister spoke to Pakistan Interim Prime Minister Soomro on 20 November and to General Musharraf on 21 and 23 November. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary, our High Commissioner in Islamabad and I have also had conversations with members and former members of the Government of Pakistan about the state of emergency.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made representations to the Government of Pakistan regarding the judiciary in Pakistan who have been under house arrest since 3 November. [HL446]

In our contacts with General Musharraf and other members of the Government of Pakistan we have repeatedly urged the release of all political prisoners, including members of the judiciary, as soon as possible, and will continue to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made to the Government of Pakistan in relation to the beatings of journalists in Karachi who were protesting against the closure of private television channels. [HL443]

We condemn the use of violence against peaceful demonstrations. Together with EU partners we are making representations to the authorities about the excessive use of violence by the police in suppressing peaceful protests not only in Karachi but also in other cities. Our High Commissioner in Islamabad attended a follow-up meeting with some of those in Karachi who had been detained. We continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to lift all media restrictions.