HC Deb 22 March 1999 vol 328 cc115-6W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are applied by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in reaching decisions on giving support for the Ilisu Dam project in Turkey. [77133]

Mr. Wilson

The Export Credits Guarantee Department will employ its normal underwriting criteria to ensure that the provision of support for this project involves an acceptable risk. Part of the underwriting process involves looking, with other Export Credit Agencies, at environmental issues, including social issues, such as the resettlement of the local population and protection of cultural heritage, as well as the economic and political risks involved. Ministers will be consulted.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a full environmental and social impact assessment before granting export credit insurance for British firms involved in the Ilisu Dam project in Turkey. [77079]

Mr. Wilson

I do not propose to publish a full environmental and social assessment on this project. We are working on the basis of documents which have been produced by other parties to the project and which are not our property. However, we shall be reviewing very carefully the environmental and social aspects of this project.