§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the Governments of Caribbean and other countries where Montserrat citizens rendered homeless by volcanic activity are resident about their eligibility for social security and other benefits; and if she will make a statement. [40921]
§ Mr. FoulkesDepartment for International Development (DFID) officials have raised this matter in discussions with the Governments in the region and in North America who have received the largest number of evacuees. These have indicated their willingness to allow Montserratian evacuees who are legally resident to have equal access to their education, health and social services as afforded to their own citizens. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) survey will provide information on whether evacuees are experiencing any difficulties in this area.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) when she will establish a charitable fund for Montserratian refugees in the Caribbean who are unable to become independent because of age or disability; what will be its size and scope; and if she will take a statement; [41026]
(2) what will be the cost to her Department of the Hardship Fund for Montserratian refugees in the Caribbean region; how many people will benefit; and if she will make a statement. [41031]
§ Mr. FoulkesA Special Needs Fund (previously called the Hardship and Charitable Fund) is being established to support Non-Governmental Organisations assisting these groups. We have advertised, seeking expressions of interest from NGOs in the region. The size of the Fund will depend upon the initial response.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish the six month scientific re-assessment of volcanic risks in Montserrat. [41035]
21W
§ Mr. FoulkesA summary of the latest scientific reassessment of volcanic risks was published by a joint committee of scientists from the British Geological Survey and the University of the West Indies on Montserrat on Tuesday 5 May. Copies are being made available to Montserratian community groups in the UK and in the region. I have today laid a copy in the Library of the House.
The full report will be available shortly.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her officials have conducted with officers of the Montserrat Building Society; and if she will make a statement. [40916]
§ Mr. FoulkesDiscussions have been limited to a brief presentation by Montserrat Building Society officers to Department for International Development (DFID) officials in January 1998. My officials passed on their comments to officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which is responsible for co-ordinating HMG's policy towards Montserrat, at the subsequent Montserrat Action group.
HMG has decided that we cannot support the Montserrat Building Society, a private institution, which is insolvent, only partially liquid and not commercially viable. This decision has been conveyed to the Government of Montserrat.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the(a) Red Cross and (b) other agencies about the future of food vouchers for citizens of Montserrat rendered homeless by volcanic activity; and if she will make a statement. [40920]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe Department for International Development (DFID) officials have regular contact with the Red Cross and other agencies about a range of matters concerning Montserratian citizens. We will shortly appoint Consultants to review the social welfare system on the island.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will introduce a soft mortgage scheme for citizens of Montserrat. [41033]
§ Mr. FoulkesMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has previously said that she is prepared to provide funding for a soft mortgage facility. We have engaged consultants to identify regional financial institutions which might be interested in co-financing the project. We hope that it will be possible to reach agreement with such an institution by June.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will publish the report by UNICEF into the needs of Montserratian evacuees in the Caribbean region. [41028]
§ Mr. FoulkesWe expect to receive UNICEF's report by the end of July and will discuss with them how the report's findings can be made publicly available.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will publish the results of the feasibility study for an airstrip in Montserrat. [41034]
22W
§ Mr. FoulkesA draft airstrip feasibility study is currently under discussion between the consultants, HMG and the Government of Montserrat. We expect to receive a final report in June. The results of the study will be made known shortly thereafter.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in Montserrat are currently living in shelters; and when they will be rehoused. [41036]
§ Mr. FoulkesThere are currently some 512 people living in shelters. The vast majority of individuals with special needs and families currently in shelters will be re-housed by the end of this year.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what requests for assistance she has received from Governments other than Antigua who have received Montserratian refugees; and what has been her response. [41032]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has requested assistance to cover additional costs related to providing Montserratian evacuees access to health, education and social services. We have told them we are not prepared to reimburse them directly for such costs, but would consider assistance for specific additional education or health facilities if there is an established need. No requests for assistance have been received from other Governments. Antigua has received a much larger number of Montserratian evacuees than any other country in the region.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will publish the sustainable development plan for Montserrat. [40931]
§ Mr. FoulkesWe are currently considering a draft sustainable development plan with the Government of Montserrat. Assuming that agreement can be reached on the outstanding points this month, a draft will be made available to the public in June.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals she has to assist the improvement of police accommodation in Montserrat. [41027]
§ Mr. FoulkesWe have just received outline proposals from the Government of Montserrat for the improvement of police accommodation on the island. These are under consideration and an announcement will be made in due course.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals she has for future financial support for Montserrat citizens rendered homeless by volcanic activity; and if she will make a statement. [40929]
§ Mr. FoulkesMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has previously said that she is prepared to fund the servicing of additional land required to meet the needs of those remaining on Montserrat. The Department for International Development (DFID) and Government of Montserrat officials are discussing the amount of land required and the location. The Secretary of State has also indicated her willingness to provide funding for a soft mortgage facility. 23W When added to the housing we, and other donors, are already providing, these projects should meet the housing needs of the current population in shelters.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the employment prospects of Montserratians rendered homeless by volcanic activity who are resident in(a) Montserrat, (b) Antigua and (c) elsewhere; and if she will make a statement. [40915]
§ Mr. FoulkesAn assessment of Montserratians' employment projects was undertaken for the development of the small enterprise initiatives for Montserrat and Antigua. The conclusion was that assistance was required to improve employment and income earning potential: arrangements are now in place on Montserrat and planned to be later this month, on Antigua. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) survey currently underway will provide the information on the employment prospects of those evacuees located elsewhere in the region.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will provide a breakdown of how the funds so far spent on helping Montserrat deal with the volcanic crisis have been applied; and how the further £14 million committed will be applied. [41025]
§ Mr. FoulkesSince the start of the crisis, the Department for International Development (DFID) has committed £62 million in assistance to Montserrat of which about £50 million has been spent: £16 million of budgetary aid and £34 million of emergency and development aid. Of the remaining £12 million, £7 million is additional budgetary support for 1998 with the balance being primarily allocated for housing.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many businesses have been started in Antigua by Montserratian evacuees with support from her Department; and at what cost. [41029]
§ Mr. FoulkesA project to assist those Montserratian evacuees in Antigua wishing to start their own business is currently being developed with the assistance of regional consultants. We hope that the project will start by the end of May.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what will be the cost of the Community Empowerment Project for Montserratian evacuees in the Caribbean region; how many will benefit; and if she will make a statement. [41030]
§ Mr. FoulkesUp to £250,000 has been allocated for the Community Empowerment Project. It is intended that the project will help Montserratian evacuees to become financially independent. All Montserratian evacuees in the region will be able to seek advice from the organisations supported by the project and to improve their access to host Government social services.