§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the environmental criteria to be applied in assessing the Ilisu Dam project. [123827]
§ Mr. MeacherA round of Ministerial correspondence over whether to provide export credit support for the Ilisu Dam project took place in December 1999. This included correspondence between the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Departmental officials have also been in contact over the issues relating to this project since February 1999. Following Ministerial correspondence, it was agreed, as the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 21 December 1999, that export credit support for the project would be conditional on the Turkish authorities agreeing actions to address the concerns we have about the environmental and social impacts of the project. As the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry stated, the areas of concern which need to be addressed are:
58W1. A resettlement programme which reflects international standards and includes independent monitoring;
2. Provision for upstream water treatment plants capable of ensuring that water quality is maintained;
3. An assurance that adequate downstream water flows will be maintained at all times; and
4. A detailed plan to preserve as much of the archaeological heritage of the town of Hasankeyf as possible.
We are now waiting to see the final Environmental Impact Assessment Report of the project and the Turkish Government's proposed Resettlement Action Plan. Following the receipt of these reports the Government will decide whether our concerns have been adequately addressed.