HC Deb 05 May 1998 vol 311 cc274-5W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what procedures are used by her Department to assess the economic efficiency and environmental and social impact of projects funded which fall below the one million ecu value threshold where approval by the ALA Committee is required. [40342]

Clare Short

Although the European Commission's own internal project cycle management guidance stresses the importance of environmental issues in the project cycle, continuing efforts are required to ensure this is always fully reflected in the design and implementation of projects and programmes. DFID continues to seek improvements in this area throughtaking an active role in management committees and our informal dialogue with the Commission; our participation on the Commission's Scientific Environmental Monitoring Group and the forestry and water expert groups; providing a project leader to prepare an EC/Member States strategy for bio-diversity conservation; seconding a forestry specialist to work for the Commission on the management of tropical forestry programmes; working closely with the European Commission to develop procedural guidelines on the integration of social and environmental issues into development projects.