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Answering member
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Hilary Benn
Type
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Benn, Hilary (21)
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of households which are not eligible for insurance against flooding; what steps the Government plans to take to assist such households; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of households which are not eligible for insurance against flooding; what steps the Government plans to take to assist such households; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Jon Trickett
(Labour)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 July 2008
For answer on
6 October 2008
Answered on
9 October 2008
Flood insurance is included as standard for virtually all household insurance policies in the UK. We have no plans to subsidise flood insurance or act as an insurer of last resort, as it is unlikely to be sustainable or cost-effective for us to do so.
Subjects
Insurance; Floods
Date
9 October 2008
Reference
480 c734W;480 c728W; 222509
House
House of Commons
On the second point, there is a problem, especially in relation to surface water flooding. Although the Environment Agency maps for river flooding, it is hard, if not impossible, to predict where surface water flooding will occur because one has to know the volume of rain that will fall, exactly where it will fall and the gradient of the ground, and then assess the capacity of the drainage system. It is a problem, but I am sure that Sir Michael Pitt's review will consider it.
Water companies' interest is principally in the capacity to supply water to new developments. In the context of flood risk, the Environment Agency, to which we have given a statutory right to be consulted, is the body whose views we need to hear. However, all those matters should be considered because I am determined that we learn lessons so that we can do better in future.
On the second point, there is a problem, especially in relation to surface water flooding. Although the Environment Agency maps for river flooding, it is hard, if not impossible, to predict where surface water flooding will occur because one has to know the volume of rain that will fall, exactly where it will fall and the gradient of the ground, and then assess the capacity of the drainage system. It is a problem, but I am sure that Sir Michael Pitt's review will consider it.
Water companies' interest is principally in the capacity to supply water to new developments. In the context of flood risk, the Environment Agency, to which we have given a statutory right to be consulted, is the body whose views we need to hear. However, all those matters should be considered because I am determined that we learn lessons so that we can do better in future.
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Asked by
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
May I record my personal thanks to the Association of British Insurers, the managing director of which visited the Vale of York when it was flooded for the second time in 2005? Does the Secretary of State see fit to give an undertaking that water companies in future will be consulted on all new developments on the flood plain so that they can ascertain whether they should go ahead rather than being deemed fit simply to connect water and sewerage to new developments?
In reply to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) about the involvement of too many bodies, the Secretary of State referred to predicting ways in which water will escape. Does he acknowledge that too many bodies are involved in mapping future flood risk? They include the Met Office, the Environment Agency, the ABI, individual insurance companies and district councils. Should not one body be made responsible for mapping possible future flood risk?
Subjects
Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c394
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
On the second point, I am happy to pass on the hon. Gentleman's point to the industry. However, from my conversations with many people who were affected, including those in his constituency, and with hon. Members, it appears that the insurance industry responded well by and large in terms of sending assessors. I understand the point about payment; quite a lot has already been paid out.
On the first point, the hon. Gentleman knows that we have considerably strengthened the guidance in planning policy statement 25. We have given the Environment Agency, which is the expert on where there is a risk of flooding, a statutory right to be consulted. Ministers, of course, have a right to call in proposals. In the light of the strengthened guidance, it is a continuing responsibility on local authorities to ask themselves whether, if they intend to build on a flood plain, they can adequately defend against a risk that is increasing because the climate is changing. Approximately 2 million homes in the country are built on a flood plain. The building that we are in now is on a flood plain, but it has a defence. Local authorities must weigh that up when making decisions so that we do not add to the problems.
On the second point, I am happy to pass on the hon. Gentleman's point to the industry. However, from my conversations with many people who were affected, including those in his constituency, and with hon. Members, it appears that the insurance industry responded well by and large in terms of sending assessors. I understand the point about payment; quite a lot has already been paid out.
On the first point, the hon. Gentleman knows that we have considerably strengthened the guidance in planning policy statement 25. We have given the Environment Agency, which is the expert on where there is a risk of flooding, a statutory right to be consulted. Ministers, of course, have a right to call in proposals. In the light of the strengthened guidance, it is a continuing responsibility on local authorities to ask themselves whether, if they intend to build on a flood plain, they can adequately defend against a risk that is increasing because the climate is changing. Approximately 2 million homes in the country are built on a flood plain. The building that we are in now is on a flood plain, but it has a defence. Local authorities must weigh that up when making decisions so that we do not add to the problems.
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Asked by
Martin Horwood
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
I appreciate the Secretary of State's interest in the impact of flooding in Gloucestershire, and in my constituency in particular. There are two issues that I would like him to raise with the insurers. First, is it wise to keep building planned houses on areas that flooded in July, like Leckhampton in my constituency? Will the homes built there be insurable at any economic premium? Secondly, will the insurers be able to expedite payments to small businesses affected by the flooding? Many of them are still waiting for compensation months later, with an obvious impact on their cash flow, their bank charges and the interest that they pay on their overdrafts.
Subjects
Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c393-4
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The hon. Gentleman and I have discussed this issue so I am very aware of the impact that the flooding had on his constituents in Burstwick and Hedon. I would say to his constituents that the increase in funding that I announced at the beginning of July and the way in which that is going to be phased in between now and 2010-11 is a direct response to the requests that many people have made of us, including the Association of British Insurers. In June, it asked us to get up to £750 million a year by 2010-11; in fact, we are going to be spending £800 million a year by 2010-11. That is why, when I announced that figure, the ABI said that this was the news that homeowners had wanted to hear. I recognise that there has been a second round of flooding since then. I am very keen that we continue to work in partnership with the ABI as we significantly increase spending on flood defence, building on the doubling of investment over the past decade so that we can keep that statement of principles in place and therefore protect the hon. Gentleman's constituents.
The hon. Gentleman and I have discussed this issue so I am very aware of the impact that the flooding had on his constituents in Burstwick and Hedon. I would say to his constituents that the increase in funding that I announced at the beginning of July and the way in which that is going to be phased in between now and 2010-11 is a direct response to the requests that many people have made of us, including the Association of British Insurers. In June, it asked us to get up to £750 million a year by 2010-11; in fact, we are going to be spending £800 million a year by 2010-11. That is why, when I announced that figure, the ABI said that this was the news that homeowners had wanted to hear. I recognise that there has been a second round of flooding since then. I am very keen that we continue to work in partnership with the ABI as we significantly increase spending on flood defence, building on the doubling of investment over the past decade so that we can keep that statement of principles in place and therefore protect the hon. Gentleman's constituents.
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Asked by
Graham Stuart
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
I thank the Minister for that answer. He will be aware that it is now estimated that more than £3 billion is to be paid out by the insurance industry. How can my constituents be sure of keeping their flood insurance cover when only just over 40 per cent. of flood defences are properly maintained by the Environment Agency and when the increase in flood defence spending by 2010-11 will return us only to the level that we were at in 2004, before this year's devastating floods? Can he give reassurance to my constituents and confirm that those in rural areas will not be neglected in order to put all the emphasis on urban areas?
Subjects
Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c391-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Now that I have announced the phasing of the increase in funding over the next three years, the Environment Agency will be in a position to plan. It will need to talk to local authorities about surface water drainage. The truth about such drainage is that we have a system that was built between 100 and 150 years ago, at a time when people did not expect to have to cope with the amounts of water that we have recently seen. The second problem is that we have concreted, covered with tarmac and paved over a lot of the surface land in our towns and cities, so when it rains to such an extent, there are fewer places for the water to go. It is not soaked up by the ground that is already saturated. Those are some of the lessons we have to learn. It will be a combination of improving capacity and ensuring that new drainage is built to a higher specification than was the case in the past, but we need to ask what more we can do in towns and cities to improve capacity to enable water to run off when we have rain of that sort.
Now that I have announced the phasing of the increase in funding over the next three years, the Environment Agency will be in a position to plan. It will need to talk to local authorities about surface water drainage. The truth about such drainage is that we have a system that was built between 100 and 150 years ago, at a time when people did not expect to have to cope with the amounts of water that we have recently seen. The second problem is that we have concreted, covered with tarmac and paved over a lot of the surface land in our towns and cities, so when it rains to such an extent, there are fewer places for the water to go. It is not soaked up by the ground that is already saturated. Those are some of the lessons we have to learn. It will be a combination of improving capacity and ensuring that new drainage is built to a higher specification than was the case in the past, but we need to ask what more we can do in towns and cities to improve capacity to enable water to run off when we have rain of that sort.
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Asked by
Martin Salter
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
In addition to welcoming the sensible suggestions made by my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) about managing river valleys so that their uplands are not intensively farmed or left in a situation where flood water can rush down them, will the Secretary of State consider earmarking some of the welcome investment in flood relief and flood defence schemes for the overhauling of antiquated surface water drainage systems? They are not up to the job, and caused as many problems as flooding from river valleys itself.
Subjects
Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c393
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
My hon. Friend raises an interesting and important point. Of course, there is already land that naturally floods during the winter, but the problem for some of the farmers whom I met was that they did not expect it to flood in that way during the summer, so it came at a bad time of the year and affected their ability to get their crops out of the ground. Yes, the Environment Agency does need to consider all the ways in which we can accommodate astonishing flows of water of the kind that we saw in June and July.
It is debatable whether landowners have to be paid to do that because in the winter they provide such flood capacity naturally. However, one lesson that we have learned from all of this—Sir Michael Pitt will be drawing all of them together in his lessons-learned review—is that we have to look at the inter-relationship of the ways in which water can escape when we have the astonishing amount of rainfall that we experienced during the summer. If my hon. Friend has not already done so, he might like to pass on the result of his consultation to Sir Michael Pitt so that he can consider it in his review.
My hon. Friend raises an interesting and important point. Of course, there is already land that naturally floods during the winter, but the problem for some of the farmers whom I met was that they did not expect it to flood in that way during the summer, so it came at a bad time of the year and affected their ability to get their crops out of the ground. Yes, the Environment Agency does need to consider all the ways in which we can accommodate astonishing flows of water of the kind that we saw in June and July.
It is debatable whether landowners have to be paid to do that because in the winter they provide such flood capacity naturally. However, one lesson that we have learned from all of this—Sir Michael Pitt will be drawing all of them together in his lessons-learned review—is that we have to look at the inter-relationship of the ways in which water can escape when we have the astonishing amount of rainfall that we experienced during the summer. If my hon. Friend has not already done so, he might like to pass on the result of his consultation to Sir Michael Pitt so that he can consider it in his review.
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Asked by
David Kidney
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
Following this summer's flooding, my survey of 4,000 households in my constituency tells me that people would support my right hon. Friend's Department giving incentives to landowners to manage their land in ways that help to prevent floods—not just the normal daily work of keeping watercourses and gullies free from obstructions but proactively, for example, by creating new water meadows and other wetland. Will he change the conditions for the single payment and the schemes for stewardship of land in order to give that incentive to landowners?
Subjects
Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c392
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Those are two good suggestions. We were already consulting on giving the Environment Agency such responsibility, particularly in relation to surface water flooding. The hon. Gentleman is right; a lot of disparate organisations have responsibility for different bits of the surface water drainage system. I want to take on board whatever Sir Michael Pitt has to say, but I am keen that we make progress on the matter, because it definitely reflects one of the lessons that we learned from the summer, particularly from what happened in Hull.
Secondly, the Environment Agency needs to look at the range of potential schemes, but even with the additional funding that we are putting in place, there has to be a system for deciding on prioritisation of where the money will be spent. The Environment Agency has already been reviewing the points system that it uses to weigh the different considerations in reaching a decision, which is a process that I support. We recognise that a decision will have to be taken to fund one thing rather than something else, but at least we have more money with which to take that decision than was the case in the past.
Those are two good suggestions. We were already consulting on giving the Environment Agency such responsibility, particularly in relation to surface water flooding. The hon. Gentleman is right; a lot of disparate organisations have responsibility for different bits of the surface water drainage system. I want to take on board whatever Sir Michael Pitt has to say, but I am keen that we make progress on the matter, because it definitely reflects one of the lessons that we learned from the summer, particularly from what happened in Hull.
Secondly, the Environment Agency needs to look at the range of potential schemes, but even with the additional funding that we are putting in place, there has to be a system for deciding on prioritisation of where the money will be spent. The Environment Agency has already been reviewing the points system that it uses to weigh the different considerations in reaching a decision, which is a process that I support. We recognise that a decision will have to be taken to fund one thing rather than something else, but at least we have more money with which to take that decision than was the case in the past.
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Maples
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
In my constituency, we have had two ““one in 30 years”” floods in nine years, and the last time 2,000 properties flooded. The owners of those properties are worried that they will not be able to get insurance in the future. I suggest two things that the Secretary of State could do to help. First, there are too many agencies with responsibilities for different parts of the problem. It would be helpful if he were to put the Environment Agency in some sort of overall co-ordinating role.
Secondly, if we are to do a proper cost-benefit analysis of the flood defences that we can afford and make sense of, we need a comprehensive survey of what could be done about each little bit of local flooding. I suggest that the Environment Agency should either do that, or commission someone to do it. Without it, we cannot make the decisions on whether particular flood defences are economically sensible.
Subjects
Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c392-3
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the insurance industry on flood risk.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the insurance industry on flood risk.
Asked by
Philip Davies
(Conservative)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 October 2007
For answer on
25 October 2007
Answered on
25 October 2007
Ministerial colleagues, officials and I are in regular contact with the insurance industry and the Association of British Insurers. We are working together with the mutual aim of ensuring continued widespread availability of flood insurance cover through the association's Statement of Principles.
Subjects
Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
160585; 465 c522W
House
House of Commons
I am in regular contact, as are ministerial colleagues and officials, with the insurance industry and the Association of British Insurers. We are working together to ensure the continued widespread availability of flood insurance cover through the association's statement of principles.
I am in regular contact, as are ministerial colleagues and officials, with the insurance industry and the Association of British Insurers. We are working together to ensure the continued widespread availability of flood insurance cover through the association's statement of principles.
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Asked by
Graham Stuart
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
What recent discussions he has had with the insurance industry on flood risk.
Subjects
Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c391
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What recent discussions he has had with the insurance industry on flood risk.
What recent discussions he has had with the insurance industry on flood risk.
Asked by
Graham Stuart
(Conservative)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 October 2007
For answer on
25 October 2007
Answered on
25 October 2007
I am in regular contact, as are ministerial colleagues and officials, with the insurance industry and the Association of British Insurers. We are working together to ensure the continued widespread availability of flood insurance cover through the association's statement of principles.
Subjects
Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c391; 160571
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) funding and (b) other resources his Department (i) has committed to micro-insurance schemes in the developing world and (ii) plans to commit in each of the next three financial years.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) funding and (b) other resources his Department (i) has committed to micro-insurance schemes in the developing world and (ii) plans to commit in each of the next three financial years.
Asked by
Mark Simmonds
(Conservative)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 March 2007
For answer on
20 March 2007
Answered on
23 March 2007
The UK's 2006 White Paper on International Development commits DFID to tackling barriers to access to markets and financial services, and supporting microfinance initiatives in partnership with banks and regulators.DFID's financial sector programmes aim to build stronger and more inclusive financial sectors, which benefit the poor. ““Microfinance”” incorporates a full range of financial products, which includes microinsurance as well as savings, credit and remittances.At 31 October 2006, DFID has spent over £165 million to support microfinance and financial sector projects and had committed 140 million more to ongoing projects. DFID does not disaggregate funding on microinsurance specifically. It is not possible to give a meaningful breakdown of future commitments by year as new programmes to improve access to finance continue to be designed and implemented.Examples of microfinance programmes supported by DFID include:"In India, Megatop received a grant of £850,000 via the Financial Services Deepening Trust, to support them in offering a range of microinsurance products and pension policies to farmers in 9,000 villages in Andhra and Madhya Pradesh using a network of village internet portals to lower costs and expand access.""Since the last review of commitments in October, DFID has approved a £32.8 million seven-year PROSPER programme in Bangladesh, which will support delivery of innovative financial services to the very poor, small businesses and farmers. Around 22 per cent. of these resources will go to a Learning and Innovation Fund which will support projects to test innovative financial services, including microinsurance."As well as direct support to programmes, DFID also works in coordination with other donors and specialist agencies:"DFID provides core funding to the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), a consortium of 33 public and private development agencies working together to expand access to financial services for the poor. The CGAP working group on microinsurance, in conjunction with the International Labour Organisation, has recently published a Microinsurance Compendium for insurance practitioners and policy makers in developing countries.""DFID is a leading supporter of FIRST, the Financial Sector Reform and Strengthening Initiative, a multi-donor trust which provides advice to developing countries on how to develop their financial sectors. In Mongolia FIRST has worked with the insurance industry, the government and the World Bank to develop a novel livestock insurance scheme that will provide microinsurance to cattle herders at affordable prices."
Subjects
Developing countries; Insurance
Date
23 March 2007
Reference
128928; 458 c1153-4W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of micro-insurance schemes in the developing world.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of micro-insurance schemes in the developing world.
Asked by
Mark Simmonds
(Conservative)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 March 2007
For answer on
20 March 2007
Answered on
23 March 2007
Surveys carried out by the FinMark Trust, a DFID funded programme in Africa, show that poor people already use a wide variety of formal and informal insurance services ranging from insurance provided by multinational companies to membership of traditional burial societies.DFID has helped support the recent expansion of microinsurance in developing countries as an effective way to help poor people to cope with shocks and reduce their vulnerability. Poor people need to be able to access a full range of financial services including insurance as well as savings, credit and remittances.Although it is a relatively young industry, microinsurance is already demonstrating its potential to provide protection to low-income communities against risks such as sickness and natural disasters. There remain big challenges, however, to the long-term sustainability of microinsurance including making sure that schemes are affordable and ensuring that schemes are appropriately regulated.Examples of DFID support to microinsurance include:"In Bangladesh, DFID contributed £100,000 to an access to rural finance study. In conjunction with the World Bank, the study investigated the feasibility of introducing a weather linked insurance product for farmers, where payouts are directly linked to objective monitoring of floods and droughts.""In Africa the FinMark Trust has spent £271,000 over the last three years on programmes aimed at making insurance markets work for the poor and has committed a similar amount over the next three years. The funding has been provided to catalyse change in the insurance market and to leverage private sector investment."
Subjects
Developing countries; Insurance
Date
23 March 2007
Reference
458 c1154-5W; 128929
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what expenditure on (a) buildings and (b) insurance of buildings and staff was by (i) his Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which his Department is responsible in (1) Scotland,...
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what expenditure on (a) buildings and (b) insurance of buildings and staff was by (i) his Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which his Department is responsible in (1) Scotland,...
Asked by
Mike Weir
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
19 December 2005
For answer on
9 January 2006
Answered on
23 January 2006
In accordance with Government accounting policy, DFID does not normally insure its buildings or staff. The following figures are for expenditure on its headquarters buildings in UK only.
Information on overseas offices is not held centrally and cannot be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost.DFID is not responsible for any other non-departmental public bodies (NDPB)s or agencies, but is responsible for CDC (formerly Commonwealth Development Corporation), a self-financing public corporation, based in London. The relevant figures for CDC are:
| Financial year | £ |
| 2002–03 | 8,748,344 |
| 2003–04 | 8,720,705 |
| 2004–05 | 9,668,959 |
| 2005–06 (Forecast) | 9,450,000 |
| £ | ||
| Buildings | Insurance | |
| 2003 | 613,700 | 759,600 |
| 2004 | 963,600 | 648,700 |
| 2005 (Forecast) | 262,000 | 308,000 |
| 2006 (Budget) | 271,000 | 340,000 |
Subjects
Executive agencies; Buildings; Department for International Development; Expenditure; Government departments; Insurance; Northern Ireland; Non-departmental public bodies; Scotland; Wales
Date
23 January 2006
Reference
40097; 441 c1739W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, for what reason the external independent quality assurance and quality control audits relating to the Chad Cameroon project have been circumvented; if he will make a statement on environmental protection measures relating to the Chad-Cameroon pipeline project; if he will make...
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, for what reason the external independent quality assurance and quality control audits relating to the Chad Cameroon project have been circumvented; if he will make a statement on environmental protection measures relating to the Chad-Cameroon pipeline project; if he will make...
Asked by
John Bercow
(Conservative)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
13 January 2004
For answer on
20 January 2004
Answered on
20 January 2004
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) for what reason the external independent quality
assurance and quality control audits relating to the Chad/Cameroon project have been circumvented; [148521]
(2) if he will make a statement on environmental protection measures relating to the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project; [148714]
(3) if he will make a statement on the standard of fiscal accountability and transparency measures since the commissioning of the
Chad/Cameroon pipeline project; [148715]
(4) for what reason quality assurance and quality control audits of the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project have not been conducted by
the World Bank; [148522]
(5) for what reason internal audits of the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project have not been conducted; [148523]
(6) for what reason bills of quantities in relation to the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project have been approved in the absence of
packages for quality assurance and quality control; [148716]
(7) for what reason work on the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project continued without procedures for quality assurance and quality
control; [148524]
(8) for what reason the project design change orders on the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project were negotiated and approved without
plans for quality assurance and quality control; [148525]
(9) what assessment has been made by international aid agencies of the adequacy of compliance with quality assurance and quality
control in relation to the Chad/ Cameroon pipeline project; [148526]
(10) for what reason the World Bank has employed contractors who are not fully I.S.O. 9000 series accredited; [148527]
(11) whether project completion certificates for the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project have been approved; [148700]
(12) if he will make a statement on levels of insurance cover relating to the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project; [148713]
(13) for what reason bills of quantities for the Chad/ Cameroon pipeline project have been approved without packages for front end
engineering design. [148717]
Hilary Benn: DFID is not directly involved in funding or implementing this project. DFID therefore does not have first-hand
information on detailed implementation issues concerning quality assurance and control audits, internal audits, quality assurance
and quality control, project design change orders, accreditation of contractors, project completion certificates, levels of
insurance, fiscal accountability and transparency measures, and bills of quantities.
However, DFID is confident that the World Bank's systems for the monitoring and implementation of this project, and for the
investigation of any warranted complaints are appropriate.
Since the project was approved in June 2000, exceptional resources have been allocated by the Bank and the International Finance
Corporation, to monitor and support the project's implementation against Internationally agreed standards. This includes the
establishment of the Independent Inspection Panel (IIP) and the External Compliance Monitoring Group (ECMG).
In relation to the quality of auditing and fiscal accountability, Bank policy identifies two sets of appropriate auditing standards:
the International Standards on Auditing published by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the Auditing Standards
published by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions. Project arrangements provide for regular audits of the
Chad/Cameroon pipeline projects accounts, plus independent opinions from the International Advisory Group (IAG) and the External
Compliance and Monitoring Group (ECMG), which carries out regular independent supervisions of the technical and environmental
aspects of the project, and from the Inspection Panel which may investigate complaints from people who believe they have been
negatively affected by a World Bank project.
The Chad/Cameroon pipeline is subject to a number of monitoring and supervision controls to ensure quality control, application of
environmental regulations, design and implementation adhere to International rules and regulations. The Environmental Management
Plan (EMP) has strict requirements and specifications, and compliance with these by all parties is spelled out in legally binding
agreements. Strong remedies are provided in legal agreements with all parties in case they fail to comply with this obligation. The
EMP represents an extensive analysis of the potential environmental and social impacts of the project.
The World Bank are being advised by the ECMG in monitoring the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan, and by an
International Advisory Group on broader implementation issues, including those that need to be addressed to achieve the project's
developmental objectives. Both the ECMG and IAG make regular site visits. These third party reviews supplement the Bank's own
monitoring and supervision of the project which includes site visits, internal reporting and continual discussions with the project
sponsors.
The above measures are additional to on-going monitoring by the Consortium and by the Governments of Chad and Cameroon. The
Consortium provide quarterly reports which are publicly available.
DFID's interest is as a member of the Executive Board of the World Bank. We do and will continue to take our role on the Executive
Board seriously, ensuring that issues identified by the Independent Inspection Panel and External Compliance Monitoring Group are
raised, monitored and rectified.
The investigation reports mentioned are available in the public domain and can be found on http://
www.worldbank.org/afr/ccproi/index.htm.
Subjects
Contracts; Accountancy; Construction; Cameroon; Finance; Environment protection; Insurance; Oil; Monitoring; Pipelines; Standards; World Bank; Chad
Date
20 January 2004
Reference
416 c1138-9W; 148521;148714;148715;148522;148523;148716;148524;148525;148526;148527;148700;148713;148717
House
House of Commons
Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the Criminal Records Bureau.
Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the Criminal Records Bureau.
Lead member
Paul Burstow
Answering member
Hilary Benn
Department
Home Office
Type
Adjournment debates
Subjects
Disclosure of information; Criminal records; Administrative delays; Commercial secrets; Fees and charges; ICT; Liability; Insurance; Forms; Older people; Standards; Vetting; Voluntary work; Criminal Records Bureau; Capita
Date
30 April 2003
Reference
404 c103-25WH
Chamber / Committee
Westminster Hall
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Statement of 27th February, 400 c32-6WS, on the Criminal Records Bureau, what implications the increased requirement for bodies registered with the Criminal Records Bureau to verify applicant's identity will have for their public liability insurance. (Reprinted in...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Statement of 27th February, 400 c32-6WS, on the Criminal Records Bureau, what implications the increased requirement for bodies registered with the Criminal Records Bureau to verify applicant's identity will have for their public liability insurance. (Reprinted in...
Asked by
Paul Burstow
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 February 2003
For answer on
13 March 2003
Answered on
13 March 2003
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his statement of 27 February 2003, Official Report,
columns 32-36WS, on the Criminal Records Bureau, what implications the increased requirement for bodies registered with the Criminal
Records Bureau to verify applicant's identity will have for their public liability insurance. [101033]
Hilary Benn: We will address any evidence that may be presented to us on these matters, under the current consultation exercise on
the recommendations of the independent review team.
Under guidance issued by the Criminal Records Bureau, registered bodies are already required to verify the identity of persons,
applying for a disclosure; in implementing the independent review team's second recommendation we are simply seeking to formalise
this requirement. We are currently consulting registered bodies on the implications for them of recommendations and will consider
any representations made about the impact on their insurance premiums.
Subjects
Liability; Insurance; Criminal Records Bureau
Date
13 March 2003
Reference
101033; 401 c393W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) hit and run accidents, (b) hit and run accidents whose driver did not have insurance and (c) hit and run drivers taken to court and (i) fined, (ii) imprisoned and (iii) acquitted there were in each of...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) hit and run accidents, (b) hit and run accidents whose driver did not have insurance and (c) hit and run drivers taken to court and (i) fined, (ii) imprisoned and (iii) acquitted there were in each of...
Asked by
Paul Burstow
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
13 February 2003
For answer on
4 March 2003
Answered on
4 March 2003
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for he Home Department how many (a) hit-and-run accidents, (b) hit-and-run accidents
whose driver did not have insurance and (c) hit-and-run drivers taken to court and (i) fined, (ii) imprisoned and (iii) acquitted
there were in each of the last five years; and what percentage of these fines remain unpaid. [98724]
Hilary Benn: Department for Transport figures are given in the following table for the number of hit-and- run accidents in England
and Wales for the years 1997-2001.
It is not possible, in the statistics collected centrally, to distinguish offences relating to a "hit-and-run" accident from
offences resulting from other kinds of accidents. Motorists charged following a "hit-and-run" will e charged with an offence
appropriate to the circumstances. This may often be failing to stop after an accident or failing to report an accident, but more
serious charges may be preferred in some cases depending on the circumstances.
Table B shows available data on motoring offences within England and Wales, as defined in section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988,
for failing to stop after an accident or failing to report an accident within 24 hours. The figures shown are the numbers of
offences, rather than the numbers of offenders.
Data on the number of cases where drivers were convicted for insurance offences, (under section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988,
using motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks), as well as the offences of failing to stop after an accident or failing to
report an accident within 24 hours are given in table C.
Information on fines unpaid by offence is not collected centrally.
Table A--The number of hit-and-run accidents, England and Wales, 1997-2001
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Year Total
1997 17,456
1998 17,564
1999 19,023
2000 21,591
2001 23,757
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Table B--Proceedings at magistrates courts and outcome at all courts for the motoring offences of failing to stop after an accident,
etc. and failing to report an accident within 24 hours-- England and Wales
Number of offences
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Year/ Total proceedings Acquittals1 Fine Immediate custody2
offence
Failing to stop after accident, etc. (Road Traffic Act 1988 s170(4))
1997 15,829 935 6,760 319
1998 15,387 861 6,299 387
1999 14,923 790 5,922 406
2000 14,663 754 5,658 403
2001 15,392 784 5,411 396
Failing to report accident within 24 hours (Road Traffic Act 1988 s170(4) and (7))
1997 13,092 830 4,419 142
1998 12,876 773 3,944 176
1999 12,336 721 3,603 192
2000 12,029 684 3,283 189
2001 12,377 705 3,092 168
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
1 Includes cases dismissed at the magistrates courts under the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 s9 and acquittals at the Crown Court. 2
Includes unsuspended sentence of imprisonment, young offender institution, secure training order (1998-2000) and detention and
training order (2000 onwards).
Table C--The number of convictions for insurance offences1 where drivers were also convicted for failing to stop after an accident
or failing to report an accident within 24 hours, England and Wales, 1997-2001
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Year Total number
1997 4,207
1998 4,339
1999 4,428
2000 4,446
2001 4,742
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
1 Section 143, Road Traffic Act 1988--using motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks.
Subjects
Criminal proceedings; Accidents; Convictions; Fines; Insurance; Prison sentences; Roads; Road traffic offences; Acquittals; Unpaid fines
Date
4 March 2003
Reference
98724; 400 c974-6W;400 c964-5W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who will pay insurance for future new prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. - Ref to 3 July 2002 388 c439W. (Holding answer 2 July 2002).
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who will pay insurance for future new prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. - Ref to 3 July 2002 388 c439W. (Holding answer 2 July 2002).
Asked by
Simon Hughes
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
27 June 2002
For answer on
11 July 2002
Answered on
11 July 2002
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will pay insurance for future new prisons in England and
Wales; and if he will make a statement. [66620]
Hilary Benn: [holding answer 2 July 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and
Harlington (John McDonnell) on 3 July 2002, Official Report, column 439W.
Subjects
Construction; Insurance; Payments; Prisons
Date
11 July 2002
Reference
66620; 388 c1197W;388 c1197-8W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who will pay insurance for new prisons in England and Wales.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who will pay insurance for new prisons in England and Wales.
Asked by
John McDonnell
(Labour)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
26 June 2002
For answer on
3 July 2002
Answered on
3 July 2002
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will pay insurance for new prisons in England and Wales.
[65423]
Hilary Benn: Insurance for new prisons in England and Wales designed, constructed, managed and financed by the private sector will
be paid for by the contractor as part of the contract price.
Subjects
Insurance; Prisons
Date
3 July 2002
Reference
388 c439W;388 c437W; 65423
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the fire insurance problems facing new privately funded prisons. - (Holding answer 24 May 2002).
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the fire insurance problems facing new privately funded prisons. - (Holding answer 24 May 2002).
Asked by
David Wilshire
(Conservative)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 May 2002
For answer on
1 July 2002
Answered on
1 July 2002
Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the fire insurance problems
facing new privately funded prisons. [59446]
Hilary Benn: [holding answer 24 May 2002]: The new privately managed prisons to be built at Ashford, Middlesex and at Peterborough
are facing problems in securing insurance cover for fire. These problems are being addressed both by the consortium that is to build
and operate the prisons and by the Prison Service and the Home Office.
Subjects
Finance; Insurance; Fires; Private sector; Prisons
Date
1 July 2002
Reference
59446; 388 c191-2W;388 c191W
House
House of Commons