§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what representations she has made to the European Commission about the environmental impact assessment of aid projects; [38406]
(2) what representations she has made to the European Commission about consultations with project beneficiaries and local communities in LDCs about the environmental impact of development co-operation programmes; [38407]
(3) what plans she has to bring about reform of the environmental assessment of EU aid during the current United Kingdom Presidency. [38408]
§ Mr. FoulkesDuring the Presidency this Department's officials are continuing, through dialogue with Commission officials in Brussels and in delegations, and through our participation in the Commission's Management Committees, to encourage the Commission to integrate fully environmental considerations into the design of its projects, to improve environmental impact assessments and to promote the development of adequate stakeholder participation and consultation, including on the environmental impact of development projects.
An important element of this will be to monitor the Commission's implementation of the recommendations of a recent independent evaluation of environmental performance of EC-funded programmes in developing countries. This evaluation highlighted the need to improve the performance of the Commission in assessing and integrating environmental considerations in their 237W development programmes, including through training and guidance for staff and through better consultation with beneficiaries. Further to the evaluation, the Commission has contracted UK consultants to improve environmental assessment and consultation procedures in their programmes to Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. We will monitor progress closely. We have also seconded a Social Development adviser to the Commission to help them to promote stakeholder participation and consultation in development programmes.