HC Deb 06 February 2001 vol 362 cc466-7W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the most recent estimate of the number of Kurdish people who will be displaced from the banks of the River Tigris as a result of the Ilisu Dam project; and if he will make a statement. [148537]

Mr. Caborn

We do not yet have a final estimate of those affected by the project. A number of estimates have been made at different times and 78,000 has been suggested as an upper estimate of the number of people possibly affected in any way. We expect this to be clarified by the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the Resettlement Action Plan when they become available.

Not all of the affected people would need resettlement, and the effect on some would be quite minor. Nevertheless, the interests of all affected people must be taken into account.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the environmental assessment relating to the Ilisu Dam project will be published. [148507]

Mr. Caborn

We expect that a presentation on the Environmental Impact Assessment Report will be made to the export credit agencies shortly, and that the Environmental Impact Assessment Report will be made publicly available after this presentation, and before any decision is taken regarding export credit support from the UK. As we are not the owners of the reports we cannot be more specific about timing.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate was included of the number of homeless Kurdish people in the plans to create the Ilisu Dam when it was first brought to the attention of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [148538]

Mr. Caborn

When the Export Credits Guarantee Department was first approached, it was advised that in the region of 15,000 people might be affected by the Ilisu Dam.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what compensation will be offered to the Kurdish people displaced to accommodate the Ilisu Dam project; and if he will make a statement. [148539]

Mr. Caborn

Compensation for those displaced or otherwise affected by the project is one of the issues we expect to see addressed in the Resettlement Action Plan.