§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the Andhra Pradesh Government on ensuring that the impact on food security for the population of Andhra Pradesh of strategies developed under the Government's Vision 2020 strategy is taken into account; and if she will make a statement. [48764]
§ Clare ShortEnhanced livelihood security for the poor is one of the five priorities for DFID support for Andhra Pradesh. We are in on-going dialogue with the Departments of the Government of Andhra Pradesh responsible for policy in the areas of agriculture production and productivity of natural resources. We are providing £45.4 million for the Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Project which seeks to help 1.5 million people, directly or indirectly, by reducing poverty and vulnerability to drought through land rehabilitation, productive and sustainable farming methods, social mobilisation, employment and non-land based income generation. All these elements have an important contribution to make in enhancing the food security of the poor.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the Andhra Pradesh Government regarding the consolidation of farms and the impact of the reduction in number of farms on the population of Andhra Pradesh; and if she will make a statement. [48765]
§ Clare ShortImproving the livelihoods of people in rural areas is a major theme of our dialogue with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. There has been no discussion of any reduction in the number of farms in the state.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the Andhra Pradesh Government on ensuring that the poorest citizens of Andhra Pradesh benefit from the strategies developed under the Government's Vision 2020 strategy; and if she will make a statement. [48767]
§ Clare ShortOur partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh is entirely focused on the reduction of poverty. As part of our on-going dialogue, DFID representatives participate in discussions of the Government's Poverty Eradication Mission, which the Chief Minister chairs. The Government are establishing a Technical Support Unit in the Mission, in order to strengthen capacity for social and poverty analysis and726W monitoring. We are currently discussing with the Government possible ways of supporting the Technical Support Unit.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the Andhra Pradesh Government on ensuring that the environmental impact of strategies developed under the Government's Vision 2020 strategy are taken into account; and if she will make a statement. [48763]
§ Clare ShortVision 2020 is a draft document, which was published by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1999 setting out a series of goals, including the eradication of poverty in the state in 20 years. In 2000, we initiated a discussion with the Government of Andhra Pradesh and others, including civil society, about how best to deploy our resources so that they contributed most effectively to poverty reduction in the state. This resulted in a DFID strategy paper for Andhra Pradesh, which sets out our approach to assisting in the elimination of poverty in the state by working towards five priorities. A copy of the strategy in the Library of both Houses.
Improved human development outcomes are one of the five priorities for DFID support for Andhra Pradesh. We are in on-going dialogue with the Departments of the Government of Andhra Pradesh responsible for policies affecting the environment about the linkages between environment and poverty. The Government of India are currently considering a proposal from the Government of Andhra Pradesh for DFID to provide support for additional strategic environmental assessment of Vision 2020.