§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development when her Department last discussed the political situation in Tanzania with(a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (b) the Department for Trade and Industry and (c) the Ministry of Defence; and what was discussed. [54262]
§ Clare ShortDFID maintains a regular dialogue with other Government Departments on all aspects of our work.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Government of Tanzania regarding the purposes of the air defence system recently purchased by the Tanzanian Government. [54255]
§ Clare ShortWe have had various discussions with the Government of Tanzania regarding the proposed air traffic control system. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is currently undertaking a review of Tanzania's civil aviation requirements and will report to the World Bank and Government of Tanzania.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to promote good governance in Tanzania. [54261]
§ Clare ShortGovernance is a core element of the DFID programme in Tanzania, which supports the Government of Tanzania's Poverty Reduction Strategy. DFID supports several programmes aimed at improving governance. Some of these are with the Government of Tanzania and include financial management reform and financial accountability, decentralisation through local government reform, public service reform and civic education. We are also working with civil society at local and national levels, disseminating information and supporting networks for advocacy and lobbying.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of her decision to withhold aid from Tanzania; and when she expects aid to resume. [54254]
§ Clare ShortIn October 2001 DFID provided £35 million budget support to Tanzania. We have delayed disbursement of the next tranche of £10 million budget support pending the Government of Tanzania's response to the review of the country's civil aviation requirements. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has been in Tanzania to undertake this review and will report to the World Bank and Government of Tanzania.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Tanzania regarding the peace process in the DRC. [54256]
§ Clare ShortI have not had discussions recently with the Tanzanian Government regarding the peace process in the DRC, but my Department and the FCO maintain a regular dialogue with the Tanzanian Government on all regional issues including the Great Lakes. We have encouraged them in their attempts to bring the Burundian 285W rebels to agree a ceasefire and join the political process under the Arusha Peace Accords, and have offered to help with the costs of these meetings. We have encouraged them to continue to link their efforts in this regard to those of the Burundian peace facilitation team under Vice-President Zuma of South Africa and President Bongo of Gabon, to whose team we are giving technical support. We are also in close touch with the Governments of Tanzania and Burundi, and with UNHCR, on resolving the question of the large number of Burundian refugees still in refugee camps in Tanzania.
§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 24 January 2002,Official Report, column 1002, on Tanzania, what further information she has collated on the impact of the purchase of an air traffic control system on the sustainability of Tanzania's debt servicing obligations and the achievement of anti-poverty targets. [54842]
§ Clare ShortThe Government of Tanzania agreed with the World Bank to review its civil aviation requirements in consultation with the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The ICAO has been in Tanzania to undertake this review and will report to the World Bank and Government of Tanzania. It is not possible to determine the impact of the purchase of an air traffic control system until the ICAO report is issued and the Government of Tanzania and the World Bank have considered it.