HC Deb 19 February 1991 vol 186 cc116-9W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the income of commercial cattle farmers in Botswana derived from the beef protocol of the Lomé agreements.

Mrs. Chalker

Under the provisions of the Lome convention, Botswana receives a quota of 18,916 tonnes of beef exports per annum to the community. It is not possible to estimate the effects of these exports on the incomes of the cattle farmers.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is given by his Department to the Botswana authorities in achieving ecologically sound development.

Mrs. Chalker

We ensure that all projects with which we are involved are environmentally sound in line with procedures laid down in our environmental appraisal manual. We also provide direct assistance to help the Government of Botswana in this area, for example by helping to fund the Government of Botswana's deputy director of wildlife.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many staff members from the ODA are working in Botswana;

(2) if he will specify the position and responsibility of all ODA staff and consultants funded by the ODA currently working in Botswana;

(3) how many ODA staff and consultants funded by the ODA are currently seconded to the Botswana authorities.

Mrs. Chalker

The following positions in Botswana are held by staff fully or partly funded by ODA:

Ministry of Agriculture

  • 1 Deputy director—veterinary Services
  • 6 Senior veterinary officers
  • 1 Veterinary research officer
  • 2 Agricultural research officers
  • 1 Weed research officer
  • 1 Agricultural economist

Ministry of Education

  • 1 Principal—Botswana polytechnic
  • 1 Head of department science
  • 1 Head of department electrical engineering
  • 1 Head of department civil engineering
  • 1 Head of department vocational training
  • 4 Lecturers—technical education
  • 1 Lecturer—civil engineering
  • 2 Lecturers—mechanical engineering
  • 1 Lecturer—mathematics
  • 1 Lecturer—telecommunications
  • 1 Lecturer—electrical engineering
  • 1 Lecturer—computing
  • 1 Lecturer—science
  • 3 Headmasters
  • 3 Deputy headmasters
  • 1 Curriculum development officer
  • 1 Inservice maths teacher trainer
  • 4 Inservice technical education teacher trainers
  • 3 Inservice English teacher trainers
  • 1 Finance officer
  • 1 Scientific instruments technician

Ministry of Health

  • 1 Orthopaedic surgeon
  • 1 Specialist physician
  • 1 Gynaecologist
  • 2 Nurse tutors
  • 1 Paediatrician

Ministry of Finance

  • 3 Computer programmers
  • 2 Training officers
  • 1 Finance officer
  • 1 Customs officer
  • 1 Internal auditor
  • 1 Statistician

Ministry of Lands and Local Government

  • 1 Director—department of wildlife
  • 3 Senior surveyors
  • 1 Senior lands use planning officer
  • 3 Senior lands officers

Ministry of Works & Communications

  • 1 Director
  • 1 Deputy director—roads department
  • 3 Senior roads engineers
  • 1 Quantity surveyor
  • 2 Architects
  • 1 Senior mechanical engineer
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  • 1 Electrical engineer
  • 1 Mechanical engineer
  • 1 Design technician

Ministry of mineral resources and water affairs

  • 1 Hydrological engineer
  • 2 Hydrogeologists
  • 1 Water engineer
  • 1 Geologist
  • 1 Economist
  • 1 Finance officer

Police and legal assistance

  • 3 Assistant Police Commissioners
  • 1 Assistant Registrar
  • 1 Privy state counsel

Computer bureau

  • 1 Micro-computer specialist
  • 1 Training specialist

University of Botswana

  • 1 Professor of Biology
  • 1 Chemistry Lecturer
  • 1 Engineering Lecturer
  • 1 Computer services manager

Consultants

  • "Makoro Ltd."
  • 2 Consultants assisting in the preparation of National Development Plan 7

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which projects in respect of dredging the Boro river ODA staff members or consultants have been involved.

Mrs. Chalker

None.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what ODA staff or consultants working in Botswana have been involved in developing plans to cull elephants in that country;

(2) in what projects relating to buffalo control ODA staff members or consultants have been involved in northern Botswana;

(3) if any ODA staff or consultants have been involved in developing plans for the disposal of elephant ivory; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

The deputy director of wildlife in Botswana is employed by the Government of Botswana. His post is partially funded by the ODA, but we have no power of direction over policies adopted by the Government of Botswana. The department of wildlife covers all aspects of wildlife planning and management in Botswana.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding veterinary advice given to the Botswana authorities by the United Kingdom and the EC regarding the need to construct a steel fence in the Okavango delta in Botswana.

Mrs. Chalker

None. The alignment of fences surrounding parts of the Okavango delta has been determined by the Government of Botswana themselves, following close consultation between the interested Government departments including the department of wildlife, and the department of animal health, and with local communities. Great care has been taken to minimise the impact on wildlife.

While neither the ODA nor the EC has provided veterinary advice on the need to construct fences, the ODA part-funds members of staff in the departments of wildlife and of animal health.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice was given by the Overseas Development Administration or EC aid agencies in respect of the case for, or environmental impact of, the construction of a steel fence in the Okavango delta in Botswana.

Mrs. Chalker

None.