§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department and its executive agencies have spent drafting, publishing and circulating each of their customer charters and customer standard documents; and how many copies of each document have been issued. [19391]
§ Mr. HanleyThe Overseas Development Administration has issued 32,500 copies of its leaflet for overseas pensioners, total cost £16,000.
The legalisation office of this Department's consular division has issued some 21,000 copies of its customer standard document, of which 500 each in Arabic, French and Spanish. Total cost of design, translation and printing was £4,210.
Consular and visa sections of overseas posts display notices, produced locally, informing customers of standards and complaint procedures. To establish their precise cost would involve disproportionate work, but it is minor. In London a fact sheet is available, produced in-house at minimal cost; it is also available on the Internet.
Ascension Island
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will increase the funding granted by Her Majesty's Government to the dependent territories in order that the Government will meet their commitments under the biodiversity convention with particular reference to Ascension Island; and if he will make it his policy that any increased funding is contingent on matching support from non-governmental organisations. [19408]
§ Dr. Liam FoxNone of the sources of Government funding for environmental projects overseas is dedicated specifically to the dependent territories. This Department's budget for small environmental projects was £380,000 in 1996–97. Bids for funding from this budget are received from all over the world from our overseas missions. Projects from the dependent territories are given priority, but are considered on their merits. In 1996–97 the dependent territories received total funding of £119,485. This included £12,750 for a project to control the spread of the Mexican thorn tree on Ascension Island. Other projects funded recently in the dependent territories, helping us to meet our commitments under the biodiversity convention, include conservation of bats and dolphins in Gibraltar and a biological assessment of saline coastal ponds in the Cayman Islands.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking to eradicate the feral cat population on Ascension Island. [19409]
§ Dr. FoxIn 1995, this Department funded a £25,000 feasibility study into the eradication of rats and cats from Ascension Island. This was on the understanding that non-governmental organisations would be responsible for the fund raising to implement its recommendations. The FCO is prepared to consider a contribution to the implementation phase of up to £30,000 from its small budget for overseas environmental projects, provided that the funds are available at the time.
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