HC Deb 29 November 1993 vol 233 cc308-10W
Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what evaluations were made of the environmental effects and effects on indigenous peoples of the World bank-funded Pangue dam project in Chile by the Overseas Development Administration; what were the results; what guidance was given to the United Kingdom executive director of the World bank as to voting on the project; and how the United Kingdom executive director voted;

(2) what evaluations were conducted by the Overseas Development Administration concerning the displacement effects of the World bank's Daguangba Hainan project in China; what were the results; which local groups were consulted; what guidance was given to the United Kingdom executive director as to voting; and how the United Kingdom executive director voted;

(3) what studies were conducted by the Overseas Development Administration on the environmental effects of the World bank-funded National Thermal Power Corporation's project in India; what were the results; which groups were consulted; what guidance was given to the United Kingdom executive director of the World bank as to voting on the issue; and how the United Kingdom executive director voted;

(4) what environmental studies were conducted on the Kureimat thermal power plant in Egypt by the Overseas Development Administration; what were the results of any such study; which groups were consulted in the evaluation; what advice was given to the United Kingdom executive director of the World bank as to voting on the issue; and how the United Kingdom executive director voted;

(5) what studies were conducted of social consequences and displacement of population by the Overseas Development Administration on the Ertan hydroelectric plant in China; what were the results of any such study; which local groups were consulted; what guidance on voting in respect of the plant was given to the United Kingdom executive director of the World bank; and how the United Kingdom executive director voted.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

ODA does not commission studies of individual project proposals presented to the World bank's board of directors for approval except where we are considering co-financing. This has not arisen in the cases specified.

Project appraisal reports and such supporting documents as summary environmental assessments which are sent to the board are reviewed by our executive director's office and, on a selective basis—mainly adjustment operations or environmentally sensitive projects—within ODA. Comments received from time to time from interested NGOs are taken into account. It is not our practice to reveal instructions to our executive director, nor to disclose the position he takes in board discussions, the proceedings of which are confidential.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the results of the World bank studies of the Narmada dam project in India initiated at the time that the loan was cancelled.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

A number of environmental and hydrological studies which were initiated before cancellation of the balance of the bank loan for the Sardar Sarovar dam project in the Narmada valley, India, were financed under a technical assistance grant from ODA to the bank. The Indian authorities have recently agreed that these reports can be made available publicly. A set of the reports is being placed in the Library of the House. We have not yet seen other studies arising from the action programme agreed between the Indian authorities and the bank in October 1992.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what World bank projects are currently being evaluated by the Overseas Development Administration; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

ODA's evaluation unit is not currently undertaking any evaluation of completed bank projects.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies have been conducted by(a) the Overseas Development Administration and (b) the World bank on the Pak Mun World bank project; what were the results of such studies; which social and environmental experts from the area were consulted; what advice was given to the United Kingdom executive director of the World bank in respect of voting on the project; and how the United Kingdom executive director voted.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We have not commissioned any studies of this project. When the World bank's board approved the loan in December 1991, we asked the bank to undertake a mid-term review given the concerns expressed at the time about the environmental impact and resettlement aspects of the project. The board is currently considering the report of a bank mission which concluded that the Thai authorities were complying with agreements reached with the bank on the resettlement and environmental aspects of the project, although much more needed to be done to improve communications with the affected population and NGOs.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom executive director of the World bank will be attending the non-governmental organisations meeting in Washington on 19 November concerning the environmental impact of the Pak Mun project in Thailand; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Our executive director was represented at the briefing meeting held in Washington on 19 November when presentations were made by a Thai NGO and academics about the potential environmental impact of the Pak Mun dam.