HC Deb 15 April 1994 vol 241 cc303-4W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what payments of compensation have been made in connection with the Pergau dam project to the state Government of Kelantan and to local landowners; and by whom.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We understand that Tenaga Nasional Berhad—the publicly listed Malaysian Electricity Company—agreed in 1992 to pay compensation to the Kelantan State Government for the use of land and water and loss of timber revenue. This amounted to just over M$121 million—£28 million. We understand that compensation has also been paid to local landowners although we are not aware of the amount.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make available the most up-to-date analyses of the environmental impact of the Pergau dam.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

ODA continues to monitor the environmental effects of this project. It is not our policy to publish advisers' reports but, following a recent monitoring visit by an ODA adviser, the main conclusions were that the Malaysian environmental management plan is being effectively implemented and that the Pergau project will not have an adverse long-term environmental impact.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to public funds of the specialist consultants appointed by the Overseas Development Administration to monitor progress on the Pergau dam.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We expect to spend a total of £1.035 million up to the 1996–97 financial year on technical, financial and environmental monitoring of the implementation of the project.

Mr. Hain

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he had over the military implications of the Pergau dam project.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

[holding answer 12 April 1994]: None.

Forward to