§ Ms KinghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of(a) the number of British jobs that will be created, (b) the number of existing British jobs that may be sustained, (c) which other countries expect to have jobs created, (d) the number of jobs that will be created for persons from other countries, (e) the number of jobs that will be created for local people and (f) the ratio of jobs for local people to jobs that will be available for persons from other countries, including in Britain, as a result of the Ilisu Dam project by Balfour Beatty Construction. [118029]
§ Mr. CabornContractual negotiations on the Ilisu project are still progressing and therefore we do not have the detailed information sought by my hon. Friend. 273W Indeed, such information normally becomes available only some time after contract signature. However, I can say that
it is estimated that in the region of 2,000 jobs in Britain could be sustained;other countries where export credit agencies are considering support are: Switzerland, the USA, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, and Portugal;other countries may be involved as sub contractors;the potential UK goods and services represent around 10-12 per cent. of the total project cost;around half the value of civil works will be expended locally;the contractor has advised us that the peak work force on site—most of whom will be local—will be around 5,000 and that the construction period will be approximately seven years.
§ Ms KinghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which banks are investing in the Ilisu Dam project; and what discussions his Department(a) has had and (b) is planning to have concerning the project. [118030]
§ Mr. CabornWe understand that a lending syndicate would be led by UBS of Switzerland. As no decision has been taken on the availability of export credit support, discussions have not yet commenced on the financing. If and when a decision is taken to provide support, ECGD will discuss the project with the lending syndicate as part of its normal procedures.