Issue 222

Whether they will provide assistance to the government of Somaliland to enable them to comply with veterinary requirements that would enable exports of livestock to other countries in the region.

Baroness Amos (President of the Council, Privy Council Office)

The UK has no plans to provide such assistance, as the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank have been engaged on this issue for several years in the region.

They have been developing a veterinary testing regime and institutions to satisfy countries of the safety of Somali livestock and have made representations to Gulf states on this. Ways of overcoming the livestock ban are also being looked into by the productive sector cluster working group as part of the Somali joint needs assessment, which covers Somaliland. We expect, alongside other donors, to support the outcome of this assessment as part of an overall reconstruction package for Somaliland.

Written Answers

Thursday, 9 March 2006

House of Lords

Somalia

Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat) asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the United Nations budget for the Extraordinary Session in Baidoa of the Somali Parliament which was elected in October 2004 by delegates in Nairobi but had yet to meet within the national territory; and whether they will propose that a similar amount be allocated to the Parliament of Somaliland, which was elected in free and fair elections and maintains the rule of law in Somaliland.

Lord Triesman (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)

The Extraordinary Session of the Transitional Federal Parliament in Baidoa was an important step forward in the Somali peace and reconciliation process. It was welcomed by the UN and the EU. A final assessment of the cost has not been completed, but a budget of the order of US $3.3 million, including for substantial work to upgrade administrative and meeting accommodation, has been envisaged.

There are no plans to provide similar operational funds to the Somaliland Parliament, but the recent elections were largely funded by the international community including the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also provided £35,000 towards the costs of electoral observation missions. The Somaliland Parliament will also benefit from a substantial EU funded parliamentary support programme. The Speaker of the Somaliland Parliament has visited the UK to witness the opening of the Welsh Assembly and learn about our parliamentary practice.

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