§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the ways in which his Department has(a) demonstrated by example and (b) promoted externally, the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing; and if he will make a statement. [4525]
§ Dr. Liam FoxIn considering project proposals, ODA programme managers are required to consider the need for environmental analysis and audit as set out in "Manual of Environmental Appraisal", a copy of which is in the
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Passengers refused leave to enter and removed at United Kingdom ports for selected reasons for refusal Main reason for refusal (as recorded in the statistics) 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 21993 21994 21995 Transit passenger—not satisfied able and intending to proceed at once to another country, and assured of entry there 679 698 528 884 1,474 1,293 962 941 Lack of returnability or inadequate entry facilities for country of ultimate destination—not allowed to proceed in transit 29 24 41 31 42 74 24 22 House Library. ODA supports the demonstration and promotion of environmental auditing as part of its development programmes in a number of countries.
Examples are environmental audit by British Steel of a Zimbabwe Steel Corporation—ZISCO—site as part of an aid and trade provision funded privatisation programme; Audits have also been commissioned for ODA projects in Guyana, privatisation of industrial sectors; in India, potential environmental liabilities associated with power sector reform.
With regard to the promotion of improved efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing, ODA is providing technical assistance to assess the environmental impacts of the Ventanas copper smelter, Chile, upon people living in surrounding areas. The environmental audit of the smelter identified low-costno—cost options to manage solid, liquid and gaseous wastes.
In Egypt, ODA is supporting the development and application of environmental auditing skills in three sectors—textiles, oil and soap, and food—through audits of 36 sites, identification of low-cost or no-cost solutions to environmental problems, financial support in the implementation of demonstration projects and training for factory staff and private sector—environmental consultants.