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1219257

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Yemen: Humanitarian Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions her Department has had with international organisations on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
	tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
	uin	66953
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2020 answer text <p>During my ‘virtual visit’ to Yemen on 18 June, I met with members of international organisations, including UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen Lise Grande, to discuss the deteriorating COVID-19 situation and impacts of UN funding shortages in Yemen.</p><p>We actively participate in Humanitarian Country Team meetings and interact with senior officials from international organisations working in Yemen every week. In addition, my officials are in regular dialogue with UN agencies and NGOs who are delivering our programmes in Yemen to understand the challenges that they are facing on the ground.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 06/07/2020 15:05:13 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

1225613

	registered interest
	date	16/07/2020
	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: Coronavirus
	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 support the economic recovery of developing countries affected by the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
	tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
	uin	75479
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2020 answer text <p>We are working though International Financial Institutions and our bilateral programmes to help developing countries access affordable financing and advisory assistance to respond to the crisis. In doing so, we are supporting a clean, inclusive and resilient economic recovery and urgently establishing safety nets, to protect the most vulnerable.</p><p>The UK has doubled its £2.2 billion loan to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, which provides concessional financing for the poorest countries. With UK support, multilateral development banks are making over $200 billion of financing available to governments over 15 months.</p><p>The UK and other G20 countries, has suspended debt service payments to the poorest countries until the end of 2020. We have contributed up to £150 million to the IMF’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust to help developing countries meet their debt repayments. These initiatives will enable countries to use their resources to respond to the crisis.</p><p>DFID currently has social protection programmes in more than 25 countries that support people who are vulnerable to the economic impacts of COVID-19.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 21/07/2020 15:12:51 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1225615

	registered interest
	date	16/07/2020
	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: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of increasing national debt on the financial stability of developing nations affected by the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
	tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
	uin	75480
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government is deeply concerned by the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on developing countries. The IMF recently forecast that debt-to-GDPs ratios will rise by 5.1 percentage points in low income developing countries in 2020. In Africa, this figure is 7.3 percentage points. Higher debt will impact on future growth, resilience and poverty reduction prospects, particularly in those countries which entered the crisis at high risk of debt distress.</p><p>In response to the crisis, the UK, alongside the G20 and the Paris Club of official creditors, has committed to a temporary suspension of debt service repayments from the poorest countries. This official sector effort could provide up to $12bn of additional fiscal space until the end of the year, allowing countries to redirect finances towards mitigating the health and economic impacts of Covid-19. This initiative will help preserve financial stability in the poorest and most vulnerable countries whilst providing time to assess what future support is required.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 23/07/2020 15:51:23 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
	tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1220060

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	International Assistance: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to ensure that the G20 action plan to tackle the economic impact of covid-19 does not exclude (a) people in conflict settings and (b) displaced people.
	tabling member constituency	Rutland and Melton
	tabling member printed	Alicia Kearns
	uin	67811
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government is committed to supporting people in conflict settings and displaced persons. The UK played a leading role in the development of the G20 Action Plan – ‘Supporting the Global Economy through the Covid-19 Pandemic’. This includes ensuring the Plan has a strong emphasis and clear commitments on helping the poorest countries - many of which are conflict settings with high numbers of displaced people. We will continue to work closely with G20 members and other partners to ensure robust implementation of the Plan’s commitments and to support people and countries most vulnerable to the economic impact of COVID-19.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 08/07/2020 15:45:08 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	4805 label Biography information for Alicia Kearns

1220061

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Development Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the International Rescue Committee's research highlighting that 52 million additional people will go hungry in fragile and developing countries in 2020, whether the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will maintain the proportion of the aid budget that is spent in fragile and conflict-affected states, currently set at 50 per cent of the Department for International Development's annual budget.
	tabling member constituency	Rutland and Melton
	tabling member printed	Alicia Kearns
	uin	67812
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK is concerned about the food security outlook in 2020. At the end of last year, 135 million people were facing acute food insecurity in 55 countries. This is set to increase this year, driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic and the desert locust outbreak. Fragile and conflict affected states (FCAS) will be amongst the most impacted.</p><p>We are working with international partners to closely monitor the situation and take action. As a leading donor to the COVID-19 response and one of the biggest humanitarian actors, we are ensuring essential supplies reach those who need it the most. We have also adapted our social protection, agriculture and food security programmes to support the most vulnerable.</p><p>The UK is committed to spending 0.7% of national income on development. Our work in FCAS is a vital part of this and we have consistently spent at least 50% of our Official Development Assistance in these contexts between 2015 to 2017. Figures for 2018 will be published in due course. We continue to look at how UK aid can be deployed most effectively in our national interest including through the Integrated Review, which will report in the Autumn and inform the new department’s priorities.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 09/07/2020 16:01:22 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	4805 label Biography information for Alicia Kearns

1222010

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Development Aid: Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to continue tackling poverty by ensuring that aid reaches (a) people who are most vulnerable because of their faith and (b) other people who are most vulnerable.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Allan Dorans
	uin	71161
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government works to ensure that all aid reaches the most vulnerable, including those people who are most vulnerable because of their faith.</p><p>The UK is committed to delivering its humanitarian aid according to internationally recognised humanitarian principles. These principles ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered to those who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance. This includes vulnerable religious minorities.</p><p>DFID’s use of country context analysis has increased the extent to which religious dynamics and religious groups are factored into all of our country programmes. DFID undertakes interdisciplinary analysis of a country’s politics, society, state and economy to identify the most significant problems that hinder development and the main entry points and opportunities to create change. There is a strong emphasis on how politics, security, and demographics interact with economic growth and human development. This includes the role of religion and the persecution of religious minorities.</p><p>Vulnerable groups such as disabled people and religious minorities, will experience crises such as COVID-19 differently. Crises are likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society, their experience of discrimination, violence and stigma, and further limit their access to essential support and services. For this reason, guidance was circulated across DFID highlighting that inclusion must be central to our response and the specific contexts and needs of vulnerable religious communities and other vulnerable groups should be taken into account when developing practical programmes of assistance.</p><p>On 8 June, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, hosted a roundtable to hear from faith leaders and faith-based development organisations about the specific challenges minority faith communities are facing during this COVID-19 pandemic.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 15/07/2020 15:51:50 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	4740 label Biography information for Allan Dorans

1222012

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Development Aid: Religion
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has in place to ensure that (a) Christians and (b) other religious minorities are not discriminated against because of their faith when UK aid is being distributed.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Allan Dorans
	uin	71162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government works to ensure that Christian and other religious minorities are not discriminated against during the distribution of UK aid.</p><p>The UK is committed to delivering its aid according to internationally recognised humanitarian principles. These principles ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered to those who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance. This includes vulnerable religious minorities.</p><p>Vulnerable religious minority groups will experience crises such as COVID-19 outbreaks differently. Crises are likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society, their experience of discrimination, violence and stigma, and further limit their access to essential support and services. For this reason, guidance was circulated across DFID highlighting that inclusion must be central to our response and the specific contexts and needs of vulnerable religious communities and other vulnerable groups should be taken into account when developing practical programmes of assistance.</p><p>The situation of minority communities is taken into account when assessing those most in need of protection and assistance. This includes when a community is being targeted or is otherwise vulnerable because of their faith. We actively consult civil society including faith-based organisations to understand how best to support vulnerable groups. DFID’s due diligence assessments ensure that all organisations have the correct procedures in place to tackle any discrimination including religious minorities. We regularly challenge our partners to demonstrate that they are doing all they can to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people, including those from religious minorities.</p><p>On 8 June, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, hosted a roundtable to hear from faith leaders and faith-based development organisations about the specific challenges minority faith communities are facing during this COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 15/07/2020 15:49:49 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	4740 label Biography information for Allan Dorans

1221887

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Tropical Diseases
	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 help people with leprosy and other tropical diseases.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	70994
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK’s global health work supports countries to build and maintain strong health systems and promote universal health coverage, to enable partner countries to tackle all the causes of ill health, including tropical diseases.</p><p>UK aid is invested in several major neglected tropical disease (NTD) programmes, which are focused on building systems to treat and prevent Guinea worm, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, visceral leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, and trachoma. These diseases were identified based on a detailed analysis of the burden of the disease, the UK’s comparative advantage in the area, and the availability and cost effectiveness of treatment and prevention. Although leprosy is not a focus disease, activities relating to leprosy can be included if these can be delivered effectively in conjunction with activities relating to the focus diseases. We work closely with national governments to plan programme activities.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 15/07/2020 15:39:56 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1224666

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	The Gambia: Human Rights
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing to victims' organisations and other civil society groups working on transitional justice issues in the Gambia.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	73742
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK regularly discusses the transitional justice process with the Government of The Gambia. A DFID programme, delivered by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, we are working to transform the National Assembly of The Gambia into a robust institution. This includes a particular focus on increasing government accountability and enhancing political inclusion among marginalised groups. The UK has also provided funding through the International Centre for Transitional Justice for an outreach programme to raise awareness and promote engagement and inclusion in The Gambia.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 22/07/2020 15:57:30 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1225555

	registered interest
	date	16/07/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Development Aid: Minority Groups
	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 develop practical programmes of assistance which take into account the specific contexts and needs of vulnerable (a) religious communities and (b) other groups.
	tabling member constituency	South West Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Andrew Selous
	uin	75213
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK is firmly committed to the protection of ethnic and religious minorities. We work to ensure that the specific contexts and needs of vulnerable religious communities and other vulnerable groups are taken into account when practical programmes of assistance are developed.</p><p>DFID undertakes interdisciplinary analysis to ensure that religious groups are factored into all of our country programmes. The situation of minority communities is taken into account when assessing those most in need of protection and assistance. This includes when a community is being targeted or is otherwise vulnerable because of their faith. We actively consult civil society including faith-based organisations to understand how best to support vulnerable groups.</p><p>Vulnerable religious minority groups will experience crises such as COVID-19 outbreaks differently. Crises are likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society, their experience of discrimination, violence and stigma, and further limit their access to essential support and services. For this reason, guidance was circulated across DFID highlighting that inclusion must be central to our response and the specific contexts and needs of vulnerable religious communities and other vulnerable groups should be taken into account when developing practical programmes of assistance.</p><p>On 8 June, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, hosted a roundtable to hear from faith leaders and faith-based development organisations about the specific challenges minority faith communities are facing during this COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work closely with partners to ensure that vulnerable religious communities and other vulnerable groups are being supported through our programming.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 23/07/2020 11:31:17 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous