§ 25. Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure that development assistance is not granted for the construction of dams whose effect would be to restrict the flow to countries downstream. [132206]
§ Clare ShortWe are not currently involved in providing development assistance for dam construction but we understand the importance of dams for water storage, and the regulation of river flows. We also recognise the potentially negative effects of dams, including changes to downstream flow regimes. In this context both insufficient releases during times of low flow, and excess releases in times of flood, are of equal relevance. Both have potentially devastating effects on the lives and livelihoods of people living downstream. We look forward to the launch of the report of the World Commission on Dams, in London next month, for which we have contributed financial support. This will provide guidance on balancing the positive developmental benefits of dams, against the detrimental social and environmental impacts. It will inform any future assistance we may give on dams projects, and provide a basis for a position paper on dams and development that we will issue next year.