§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what independent financial auditing is undertaken on the contracts issued by the Coalition Provisional Authority for the reconstruction of Iraq. [166606]
§ Hilary BennThe use of all Iraqi assets by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is subject to independent auditing oversight by the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), which was set up under UNSCR 1483.
In order to ensure its independence, IAMB'S membership comprises representatives of the United Nations, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. IAMB has recently appointed a private sector audit firm to undertake its audit functions. IAMB'S website is www.iamb.info
The use by the CPA of United States Government resources is subject to the audit procedures of the US authorities.
§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of(a) the extent to which non-governmental organisations will exit Iraq following the scheduled handover of sovereignty to Iraqis on 30 June and (b) the impact this will have on the humanitarian situation in the country. [165428]
§ Hilary BennThe number of international NGOs present in much of Iraq has been low for some months because of security concerns. However, some continue to operate using Iraqi or Arabic staff, and there are a large number of emerging Iraqi NGOs and more international NGOs are present in Kurdish areas. After the handover of sovereignty, and with the return of the UN, it is possible that international NGOs might increase their presence, but this will mainly depend on the security situation.
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§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations have been made to him by UK-based non-governmental organisations on the security of their aid workers in Iraq following the scheduled handover of sovereignty to Iraqis on 30 June. [165429]
§ Hilary BennDFID maintains close and regular contact with UK-based non-governmental organisations. The security environment remains one of our central concerns. However, no specific representations have been made on the security of aid workers following the scheduled handover of sovereignty on 30 June.
§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps will be taken to ensure the security of aid workers in Iraq following the scheduled handover of sovereignty to Iraqis on 30 June. [165430]
§ Hilary BennFollowing the transfer to Iraqi sovereignty on 30 June the UK will continue its contribution to the multinational force, which is mandated with contributing to security and stability in Iraq. DFID already provides some security-related assistance to the UN and will offer support to help the UN re-establish itself in Iraq. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be responsible for their own security, but DFID will continue to maintain regular dialogue with them on security issues.
Extensive measures are taken to protect DFID staff and contractors, for example through the provision of safety and communications equipment, security training, briefing and armed protection. These security arrangements will be kept under constant review before and after the transition to Iraqi sovereignty.
§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether training projects or preparations for Iraq proposed by(a) the Emergency Response Team and (b) the Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department of his Department were (i) cancelled and (ii) postponed in the year to 1 May 2003. [165985]
§ Hilary BennThere were no training projects or preparations for Iraq DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department, including its Operational Team, cancelled or postponed in the year to 1 May 2003.
§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what occasions the head of the Emergency Response Team visited(a) Iraq and (b) the Gulf region in the year to 1 May 2003. [165986]
§ Hilary BennThe Director of the Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department's Operations Team made visits to Kuwait on 4–7 February 2003 and Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait and Iraq 13–17 April 2003. These visits were for operational planning and management purposes. He also visited Cyprus on 26–27 March 2003 for discussions with United Nations agencies.
§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether any training in personal health and safety for(a) the Emergency Response Team and (b) the Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department of his Department was (i) cancelled and (ii) postponed in the year to 1 May 2003. [165987]
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§ Hilary BennThere was no cancellation or postponement of training in personal health and safety for DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department, including its Operational Team, in the year to 1 May 2003. 29 staff from the Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department, including part-time consultants of the Operational Team, attended health and safety courses in this period.
Training in personal health and safety for staff is identified following training needs assessments and arranged to suit course and individual Availability and the priority of the requirement. Apart from internal briefings, the Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department does not run its own health and safety training. It sends staff to appropriate external courses. These courses are reviewed annually reflecting changing priorities. In addition DFID provides its staff with regular advice on health and safety issues.
§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance has been given to trade union bodies in Iraq; what programmes such assistance was given under, and whether those programmes are still open for further assistance. [166137]
§ Hilary BennDFID has not yet provided any funding for trade unions in Iraq. Trade unions under Saddam Hussein were part of the Ba'ath Party machinery and had very little independence. Effectively they no longer exist. It will take time to establish more appropriate structures for industrial relations in Iraq.
DFID is committed to supporting the emergence of a vibrant civil society in Iraq, including through trade union organisations as they begin to emerge. DFID is putting in place, programmes for providing support to civil society groups. Proposals from nascent trade union groups will be eligible to be considered for funding.
§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's total expenditure in Iraq has been since May 2003; if he will list the major projects funded; and under which budget heads each project was funded. [166414]
§ Hilary BennIn the 2003–04 financial year, DFID disbursed £209 million from its Iraq programme budget, and £1.1 million from its running costs budget on expenditure related to managing the Iraq programme.
Updated lists of projects are regularly deposited in the Library of the House. Since March 2003, DFID has approved funding for projects worth £278.6 million under the Iraq programme. The main areas for support are as follows:
£13 million to United Nations agencies for pre-conflict preparedness:
402WWorld Food Programme (£8 million);UNICEF (£2 million);United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (£1.75 million);World Health Organisation (£1 million);Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (£150,000);Office of the United Nations Security Co-ordinator (£100,000).£71.8 million to United Nations agencies in response the UN Consolidated Appeals for Iraq:
World Food Programme (WFP), for food aid and logistical support (£25 million);United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), for emergency assistance to the electricity sector (£12.2 million), rehabilitation work on Umm Qasr Port (£3.1 million), rapid employment generation (£0.9 million);UNICEF, for water and sanitation projects, child immunisation, and mine risk awareness (£13.8 million);World Health Organisation, for health system support (£5 million);UN Mine Action Service, for mine clearance activities (£4.4 million);Office of the UN Security Co-ordinator (UNSECOORD), to support enhanced UN security in Iraq (3.5 million);Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), for recovery of agriculture in southern Iraq (£1.5 million);Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), for information coordination and technology (£0.75 million);UN Environment Programme (UNEP), for post conflict environmental assessment (£0.7 million);UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), for promoting women's rights (£0.5 million);Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, for promoting human rights in Iraq (£4 million).£70 million to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI), of which £40 million was allocated to the World Bank Trust Fund, and £30 million to the United Nations Trust Fund.
£32 million to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, for emergency humanitarian provision.
£7.3 million to non-governmental organisations for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance.
£84.5 million for specific projects, of which:
£25.9 million to meet the costs of secondments and consultants in the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA);£26.7 million for infrastructure rehabilitation projects in southern Iraq;£8.5 million to the International Finance Corporation's facility for support to small and medium businesses;£6.5 million to the BBC World Service Trust for the re-establishment of broadcasting capacity;£5 million to set up a Political Participation Fund to increase opportunities for political representation by all Iraqi citizens;£3.15 million to support CPA Governorate teams in southern Iraq;£3.15 million to the IMF for economic governance and financial management support;£3 million for strengthening the capacity of public administration;£2.1 million for support to the justice system, including training for judges and lawyers in human rights law;£0.5 million for training Iraqi journalists.