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225230

registered interest
date	04/03/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Politics and Government
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the UK is taking to promote good governance and anti-corruption initiatives in (a) Jordan, (b) Gaza and the West Bank, (c) Turkey, (d) Nigeria, (e) Tunisia and (f) Mali.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Sir Menzies Campbell
uin	226375
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>a) The UK is supporting political and economic reform in Jordan through the Arab Partnership, including support to committees in parliament to improve the quality of legislation and support improvements to parliamentary procedures. We are also working with different groups across Jordanian governorates to build concepts of good governance, including forming counsels from the local communities that work to monitor the performance of local governance institutions against its roles and responsibilities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>b) The UK is helping the Palestinian Authority (PA) to build strong institutions and deliver essential services. Our support is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding which reaffirms the PA’s commitment to non-violence and a negotiated two-state solution, as well as its respect for human rights and delivering clean and accountable governance in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We are also helping deliver institutional reform and improve public financial management, and working with civil society to help citizens become more effective at holding the PA to account.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>c) DFID does not does not have any anti-corruption or good governance programmes in Turkey.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>d) The UK promotes good governance and anti-corruption in Nigeria through a range of technical assistance programmes which support democratisation, better use of Nigerian resources, improved transparency in the oil sector, increased capacity of civil society and more robust enforcement of anti-corruption legislation. No UK aid money goes directly to the Government of Nigeria to ward against corruption.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>e) Since the revolution, UK funded programmes in Tunisia have supported the development and application of a code of conduct for public servants, have strengthened risk management, audit practices and the development of a whistle blowing framework, and have enhanced transparent public procurement. The UK has also supported the development of an anti-corruption strategy and strengthened the role of the National Anti-Corruption Agency.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>f) DFID and FCO have developed a cross-governmental strategy to support effective, prioritised and coordinated action at the international and multilateral level to strengthen governance in Mali and the wider Sahel region. Our objective is to ensure that Sahelian States, including Mali, have governments that are politically inclusive, able to deliver basic services, enable growing prosperity and cooperate regionally.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency New Forest West answering member printed Mr Desmond Swayne question first answered 11/03/2015 17:57:35 answering member 55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne
tabling member	627 label Biography information for Lord Campbell of Pittenweem

225231

registered interest
date	04/03/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Mental Illness
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination as a result of signing up to the Time to Change Pledge.
tabling member constituency	Sutton and Cheam
tabling member printed	Paul Burstow
uin	226338
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>Mental health problems are common - but nearly nine out of ten people who experience them say they face stigma and discrimination as a result. This year mental health has been a strategic focus for our workplace inclusion programme. This work was instigated in August 2013 with our signing both the ‘Time to Change’ and ‘See Me Scotland’ pledges to tackle stigma.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Throughout the year we have sustained momentum on this agenda through:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>· The delivery of a series of strategic and targeted communications including the UN Day for People with Disabilities and the ‘Time to Talk’ day.</p><p> </p><p>· Working with external partners to conduct an in-depth and impartial audit of our management practices where they relate to the mental health of our staff.</p><p> </p><p>· Sharing our learning with other government departments.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Our work in this area will continue over the coming year as we implement the recommendations of the audit above.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency New Forest West answering member printed Mr Desmond Swayne question first answered 11/03/2015 17:54:52 answering member 55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne
tabling member	204 label Biography information for Paul Burstow

225232

registered interest
date	04/03/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Children: Employment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment and analysis her Department has carried out of the effects and extent of child labour in the regions and sectors where the Department works; and how resources are allocated through its economic development strategy to address that issue.
tabling member constituency	Congleton
tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
uin	226320
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>To combat child labour, DFID believes it is essential to work to address the underlying conditions that encourage it, in particular extreme poverty. In Bangladesh, for example, DFID is working with both government and non-governmental organisations to prevent child labour and exploitation. This includes providing education and skills training to vulnerable children, removing children from harmful workplaces and supporting families so that their children do not have to drop out of school to go to work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>DFID also supports action to increase primary-level education for children from poor families and provide social protection for extremely vulnerable children and families.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Plans for programmes under the economic development strategic framework are based on assessments of need and context in the countries in which DFID works.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency New Forest West answering member printed Mr Desmond Swayne question first answered 09/03/2015 15:26:28 answering member 55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne
tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

225233

registered interest
date	04/03/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what accreditation staff in her Department undertaking professional programme management training receive; and how many people at each grade in her Department have received such training.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sir Tony Cunningham
uin	226234
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>Since 1st June 2014, when the scheme first started, 253 staff members have demonstrated sufficient expertise and knowledge, through a rigorous process of accreditation, into the Programme Management Cadre. They include three Senior Civil Servants and 15% have been senior advisors or team leaders. As would be expected, the remaining are made up of programme managers across the department.</p><p> </p><p>Programme Management Training within DFID started in 2013 since when over 400 have attended a three day Delivering Effective Aid Programme. Following the introduction of the Smart Rules and the new programme management architecture, the course has been modified and a further 200 have attended from all grades across the department. Each month one course is held in the UK (alternating between London and Glasgow) and one course is held in a country programme.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency New Forest West answering member printed Mr Desmond Swayne question first answered 11/03/2015 17:58:51 answering member 55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne
tabling member	1469 label Biography information for Sir Tony Cunningham

225234

registered interest
date	04/03/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many Heads of Profession there are in her Department; and what professional programme management qualifications each of those Heads of Profession holds.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sir Tony Cunningham
uin	226235
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>Table A3.1 in Annex A3 the Independent Commission on Aid Impact Report 34 on ‘How the Department for International Development (DFID) Learns’ lists the 13 technical advisory professions. There are also 7 heads of corporate professions (Communications, Finance, Human Resources, Internal Audit, Information Technology, Knowledge and Procurement &amp; Commercial); a Head of Policy Profession and a Head of Programme Management Profession.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We do not provide personal information on individuals and cannot give precise details on the qualifications of each Head of Profession as requested.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>All the Heads of the Advisory, Programme and Policy Professions have completed essential DFID internal programme management courses (or the equivalent in a European donor), and have at least 5 years programme management experience. Several hold post-graduate qualifications in fields related to programme management as well as qualifications in their technical area. In addition three of the heads of the Corporate professions are qualified in PRINCE (Projects in Controlled Environments).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency New Forest West answering member printed Mr Desmond Swayne question first answered 11/03/2015 18:00:03 answering member 55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne
tabling member	1469 label Biography information for Sir Tony Cunningham

225235

registered interest
date	04/03/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Nutrition
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to tackle micronutrient deficiencies in countries defined by the World Health Organisation on high burden countries; and what further steps she plans to take in relation to such countries.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sir Tony Cunningham
uin	226231
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>Tackling undernutrition in the first 1,000 days of life is central to DFID’s strategy to improve child health and wellbeing, and tackling micronutrient deficiencies is a key part of that strategy. Details of DFID’s bilateral support is published on its Development Tracker website: <a href="http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/" target="_blank">http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition to bilateral programmes, DFID provides support to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), all of which contribute to tackling micronutrient deficiencies in WHO high burden countries.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency New Forest West answering member printed Mr Desmond Swayne question first answered 11/03/2015 17:59:09 answering member 55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne
tabling member	1469 label Biography information for Sir Tony Cunningham

225237

registered interest
date	04/03/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to page eight of her Department's Annual Report and Accounts, published on 15 July 2014, what the content was of the commercial skills training received by senior civil servants in her Department; what accreditation those staff received upon completion of that training; and how many people at each grade in her Department received that training.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sir Tony Cunningham
uin	226233
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>DFID’s Commercial training focuses on improving commercial capability across the department, in-line with the requirements of the Civil Service Reform plan as stated in DFID Annual Report and Accounts 2013–14. To date, ninety nine DFID Senior Civil Servants have completed the training.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency New Forest West answering member printed Mr Desmond Swayne question first answered 11/03/2015 17:58:33 answering member 55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne
tabling member	1469 label Biography information for Sir Tony Cunningham

225238

registered interest
date	04/03/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Politics and Government
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what work her Department's Governance and Fragile States department has undertaken to promote better governance in fragile and conflict-affected states.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Sir Menzies Campbell
uin	226434
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>The Prime Minister has consistently said that there is a Golden Thread of conditions that enables open economies and open societies to thrive: the rule of law, the absence of conflict, the absence of corruption, the presence of strong property rights and institutions. In fragile and conflict-affected states, DFID funds programmes on peace, governance and growth, working on issues such as preventing conflict, fighting corruption, improving the enabling environment for businesses, reducing barriers to trade, and giving women more voice in political processes. DFID is also working closely with other UK Government departments to ensure a whole of government approach to international peace and security. By January 2015, DFID’s programmes globally supported millions of women and men to vote in thirteen countries; supported 81 million people to have choice and control over their own development and to hold decision-makers to account; improved access to security and justice for 10 million women and girls; and helped 5.5 million people secure their land and property rights.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency New Forest West answering member printed Mr Desmond Swayne question first answered 11/03/2015 17:58:18 answering member 55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne
tabling member	627 label Biography information for Lord Campbell of Pittenweem