§ Hugh BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that the Southern Africa Hunger and Vulnerability Strategy will have sufficient resources to ensure that the lessons learned from the International Development Committee enquiry on the humanitarian crisis in southern Africa are acted upon. [146157]
§ Hilary BennThe Southern Africa Hunger and Vulnerability Strategy has been developed in response to the issues raised in the International Development Select Committee's Report. We will work to strengthen vulnerability monitoring and assessment systems that can feed into the design of safety nets in the region and will explore how the role of the private sector in enhancing food security can be encouraged. We also intend to provide support for policy networks working on food security issues in Southern Africa so that a longer-term focus on regional food security can be maintained.
We are in the process of designing a programme of support along these lines. We will look for opportunities to work with national Governments and with bilateral and multilateral donors in order that DFID's resources can leverage longer-term investment in regional food security.
§ Hugh BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to ensure food aid in southern Africa is(a) only distributed where it can be demonstrated to be the best response and (b) allocated on the basis of national Vulnerable Assessment Committee data. [146158]
§ Hilary BennDFID is one of the major funders of Vulnerability Assessment Committees in Southern Africa. We continue to support the work of the VACs in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe in an effort to better track vulnerability trends, and to provide a more detailed assessment of humanitarian needs and the most appropriate response to them.
VAC data has already been used to help programme our response to current humanitarian needs in the region. We are providing support for food aid operations in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique, where VACs have recommended continued food aid programming. In situations where food aid is not considered to be an appropriate response, we are providing a range of other support aimed at encouraging agricultural recovery. Seed fairs, targeted input schemes, and support for public works programmes that provide incomes for the rural poor, are examples of non-food aid relief that DFID is currently funding.
§ Hugh BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans the Government has to(a) prevent the deterioration of health and education services in southern Africa as a consequence of the HIV/AIDS crisis and (b) support the strengthening of these services. [146159]
§ Hilary BennDFID is currently working on this issue at a number of levels. Activities in the southern Africa region include increasing information on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the social services; the promotion of 43W national plans that address its impact; funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation programmes; and capacity building support for health and education services. DFID is working closely with Governments, civil society, the private sector, and other donors to tackle HIV and AIDS which is the major challenge for the region.
The Government's recent "Call for Action on HIV/AIDS" promises to make HIV/AIDS a priority for the additional £320 million a year which DFID will be devoting to Africa by 2006, fulfilling the UK pledge to increase development assistance to Africa to £1 billion per annum.