Written Statement of 23 June 2004

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Montserrat
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Gareth Thomas)
  DFID has agreed a new three-year package of assistance worth £40 million for the UK Overseas Territory of Montserrat. The commitment is included in a new country policy plan, as part of ou ongoing partnership with Montserrat. The plan sets out our agreed strategy for continued working in support of efforts by the Government of Montserrat to rebuild essential infrastructure and to regenerate the island economy, in the aftermath of the volcanic crisis of the mid 1990s.

  As a result of that volcanic activity, most southern areas of the island—which included the capital town of Plymouth and the international airport—became uninhabitable and still remain subject to extremely restricted access for safety reasons. While the volcano remains active, the challenge has been to rebuild and provide basic facilities and services for the island community in the "safe" northern half of the island. Considerable progress has already been made, with DFID support totalling some £206 million since the onset of the crisis.

  The focus for future support will be on activities that will help generate local revenue and encourage private sector investment. There are already some encouraging signs of private sector interest. A new airport, part funded by DFID, replacing the one lost to the volcano, will be completed later this year and should be a key contribution to the process of stimulating the economic growth that is needed.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Rural Payments Agency (Performance Targets)
  The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett)
  I have set the Rural Payments Agency the following performance targets for 2004–05:

  Customers

  To process and pay at least 96.14 per cent. of valid IACS claims by value within EU deadline.
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  To process and pay at least 80 per cent. of valid non-IACS claims by volume within ministerial guidelines and 99 per cent. within the set EU Commission deadlines or in their absence 60 days.

  To process and pay at least 98.5 per cent. of valid claims correctly.

  To record calf registrations and issue passports within 14 days of a valid application in 90 per cent. of cases.

  Working with DEFRA Communications and Policy Directorates to agree by 31 December 2004 an effective customer communications strategy for the Single Payment Scheme.

  Finance

  To ensure that disallowance within the control of RPA due to non-compliance with EU requirements remains below 2.5 per cent. of the value of CAP payments made by the agency.

  To complete the agreed inspection programme for CAP schemes in accordance with EU regulatory requirements, taking into account any approved derogations.

  Business Processes

  Subject to timely agreement on relevant CAP reform policy issues and the availability of the funding set out in the December 2003 business case, to have developed the new processing system in order to support the Single Payment Scheme under CAP reform so that payments under this scheme can be made during the 2005–06 scheme payment window.

  To provide 95 per cent. of customers by 31 March 2005 with details of that part of their entitlement under the Single Payment Scheme which relates to their historic receipts from existing schemes.

  To develop an effective procedure for resolving queries to support the provision of details of historic entitlements.

  To provide accurate and timely operational advice in support of policy development and DEFRA business systems.

  People

  To develop a baselined workforce planning strategy by 31 March 2005 to inform future staffing levels, skills requirements and reward policy.

  To manage recruitment and retention issues actively to ensure that unplanned turnover does not exceed 5 per cent., so as to meet "bulge" and business continuity requirements.

  To reduce sick absence at BCMS by two days per staff year against the final outturn per staff year in 2002–03.

PRIME MINISTER

  Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
  The Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair)
  My hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly (Mr. David) has been appointed as a full member of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in place of my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Pope).

  Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
  The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)
  My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has made the following Written Ministerial Statement today.

  My honourable friend the Member for Caerphilly (Mr David) has been appointed as a full member of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in place of my honourable friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr Pope).

  Montserrat
  Baroness Amos
  My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
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  DfID has agreed a new three-year package of assistance worth £40 million for the UK Overseas Territory of Montserrat. The commitment is included in a new Country Policy Plan, as part of our ongoing partnership with Montserrat. The plan sets out our agreed strategy for continued working in support of efforts by the government of Montserrat to rebuild essential infrastructure and to regenerate the island economy, in the aftermath of the volcanic crisis of the mid-1990s.

  As a result of that volcanic activity, most southern areas of the island—which included the capital town of Plymouth and the international airport—became uninhabitable and still remain subject to extremely restricted access for safety reasons. While the volcano remains active, the challenge has been to rebuild and provide basic facilities and services for the island community in the "safe" northern half of the island. Considerable progress has already been made, with DfID support totalling some £206 million since the onset of the crisis.

  The focus for future support will be on activities that will help generate local revenue and encourage private sector investment. There are already some encouraging signs of private sector interest. A new airport, part funded by DfID, replacing the one lost to the volcano, will be completed later this year and should be a key contribution to the process of stimulating the economic growth that is needed.