§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on concessional financing in China. [63847]
§ Clare ShortThe White Paper on International Development (Cm 3789), published in November of last year, announced the abolition of the Aid and Trade Provision (ATP) and set out our policy on possible assistance to the private sector in paragraph 2.35. Any potential assistance would be subject to the strategy and sectoral focus agreed for each country and the standard procedures for quality control. We also made clear that all ATP projects previously agreed and still under implementation would be completed. This policy applies in China and elsewhere.
341W
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress she has made in promotion of human rights in China; and if she will make a statement. [63845]
§ Clare ShortThe Government seek to support all the human rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in China and elsewhere, which means that we are concerned with economic and social rights as well as civil and political rights. We are engaged in dialogue with the Chinese authorities and have increased the frequency of formal talks. These have provided the opportunity for us to raise concerns about issues such as China's one child policy, imprisonment without trial, freedom of religion and executions.
As an additional means to addressing the economic and social rights of poor people in China, we are currently designing a range of projects (in basic health, education and water development) with a probable value of some £ 40 million. Meanwhile, we have approved a £670,000 project to help improve the lives of orphaned children in Shanghai through the introduction of a foster care system and are exploring the scope for further co-operation in the field of prison management reform and measures to combat corruption.
§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consultations she carried out with the private sector when preparing her country strategy for China. [63544]
§ Clare ShortIn preparing the China country strategy, my officials sought the views of companies with interests in China through the China Britain Trade Group and the British Chamber of Commerce in Beijing. Views were also sought from institutions, including the International Finance corporation and the Commonwealth Development Corporation, which have strong private sector interests. In addition to the private sector, officials consulted civil society organisations, the academic community and a wide range of Chinese interlocutors.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the Commonwealth Development Corporation's investments in China. [63848]
§ Clare ShortAt present the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) does not have any investments in China.