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1197031

	registered interest
	date	19/05/2020
	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: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will publish her Department's guidance to country offices on re-prioritising projects and programmes as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	49096
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/06/2020 answer text <p>Across the DFID country office network, we are adapting over one hundred existing health and humanitarian programmes, and close to two hundred existing social protection, economic, governance, conflict and other programmes, across 35 countries and regions relevant to the COVID-19 response. The flexing and adaptation of DFID programmes must consider numerous factors, ensuring that our strategy is tailored to the local context. There are no plans to publish internal guidance to country offices.</p><p>In addition, the UK has pledged £764 million to support efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic as quickly as possible. We are taking decisive and co-ordinated action, guided by the WHO and based on science and evidence.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 02/06/2020 08:03:52 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1226485

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2020
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether all existing UK Aid Match commitments will be maintained by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	76836
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/07/2020 answer text <p>All government departments are working through how their plans will need to change in light of the risk of a significant recession this year. DFID is no exception. The Government’s 0.7% GNI target is directly linked to the performance of the UK economy. No decision has been taken, but we are considering the full range of our work. In the short term, we have paused new financial arrangements while we agree our future work in close cooperation with other aid spending Departments.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 27/07/2020 14:28:27 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1227346

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Coronavirus: Research
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her priorities are for the GAVI board meeting to discuss the COVAX facility.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	78807
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>As GAVI's largest donor, the UK is proud of the impressive results GAVI has achieved in vaccinating over 760 million children, and saving 13 million lives since 2000.</p><p>As the world grapples with the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK has been clear that the equitable global distribution of a vaccine will be the best defence against it, enable collective recovery, and reduce the risk of repeat outbreaks. We therefore strongly support Gavi using its expertise and experience to lead on accelerating global access to COVID-19 vaccines via the COVAX Facility.</p><p>The UK was represented by two senior DFID officials at the GAVI Board, where the priority is to ensure that the COVAX Advance Market Commitment delivers timely and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in the poorest countries.</p><p>The UK's overarching priority for its £1.65 billion contribution to Gavi from 2021-25 is to maintain and improve routine immunisation against vaccine preventable diseases in the poorest countries.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 01/09/2020 08:21:16 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1226785

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2020
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2020 to Question 71769, if she will list the (a) NGOs and (b) other stakeholders that have been consulted on the merger of her Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	77756
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>As with any government change of this nature, the announcement came first to Parliament. The Government will continue its ongoing engagement with key stakeholders, including on issues relating to the merger. Plans on how we will do this with different partners will be shared in due course.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 01/09/2020 15:55:32 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1200186

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Developing Countries: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has paused funding decisions for new projects and programmes in the Global South not directly related to tackling the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	54218
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>COVID-19 has caused unprecedented disruption across the world from direct health impacts caused by the virus itself, and indirect effects caused by the response, including on economies, livelihoods and education. We have so far pledged up to £764 million of UK aid, tackling the spread of COVID-19 and mitigating both its primary and secondary impacts.</p><p>Funding decisions are taken on an ongoing basis. We are reviewing our programming to ensure UK aid is spent as effectively as possible to help the world’s poorest. DFID will continue to deliver projects directly related to tackling the coronavirus pandemic but also many projects related to other development issues.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 08/06/2020 15:57:06 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1198059

	registered interest
	date	01/06/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Development Aid: Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she plans to introduce a stabilisation fund for international non-governmental organisations to continue to deliver aid to people living in extreme poverty in the global south.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	52321
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>Civil society organisations (CSOs) are key partners for DFID in our response to COVID-19 and we have pledged new funding specifically for CSOs to support our work to tackle the virus. This includes funding allocated through the Rapid Response Facility and significant funding through the DFID Unilever COVID-19 Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition. A new UK Aid Direct funding round has also been launched, some of which has been set aside for rapid access by existing UK Aid Direct grant holders who are able to respond immediately to COVID-19. In addition, International Non-Government Organisations will receive funding through multilateral organisations as downstream partners as part of the UK’s response. As DFID’s country network adapts programming to respond to COVID-19, country teams are considering how they can do this through partners, including through CSOs.</p><p>We are working flexibly with existing civil society partners to respond to the pandemic, maintain delivery of essential programmes and manage the impacts on organisations and staff. DFID is also offering support to all suppliers, including civil society, in line with the provisions of the Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note and associated guidance for grants. This allows for relief on services and goods provided in the UK, to DFID aid programmes as a last resort and on a case-by-case basis for DFID contracts and grants. UK-based CSOs are also eligible for the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.</p><p>NGOs are fundamental parts of DFID’s work. Given DFID’s support for them runs so deeply through everything we do, there is no plan to create a specific fund.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 08/06/2020 16:01:59 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1191805

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2020
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2020 to Question 35022, on Overseas Aid: Coronavirus, whether she has plans to allocate funding to civil society organisations in countries in the Global South that are (a) affected and (b) at risk of being affected by the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	41565
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>Civil society organisations (CSOs) in the global south are key partners for DFID. Many of DFID’s programmes support local CSOs in order to deliver humanitarian and development outcomes, including providing humanitarian support to tackle the spread and consequences of COVID-19. As DFID’s programming adapts to respond to COVID-19, we are also considering what work needs to be adapted or paused as our partners are affected by the pandemic, either directly or in response to the risk.</p><p>DFID’s recent announcement of £200 million of funding to the global response, brings the total announced funding to £744 million to support the global efforts to combat the outbreak of the pandemic. This includes £20 million directly to CSOs to support them on humanitarian response, the majority of which will go through the Rapid Response Facility. It also includes £130 million for the UN agencies. CSOs based in the global south will be able to access some of this funding as downstream partners. We are encouraging the UN to channel the funding as quickly as possible, including to CSOs. Extra funding opportunities will also be available through DFID’s new partnership with Unilever to support hygiene practices in developing countries.</p><p>Much of DFID’s work is delivered through our extensive country office network and we know CSOs play a key role in delivery of our COVID-19 response through our country programmes. We are reviewing our programme portfolio in light of the COVID-19 response which will enable us to identify existing activities which can already support the response and others which can be adapted or scaled up, such as our support to health systems and humanitarian crises.</p><p>DFID is offering support to suppliers and partners where this is appropriate, and will apply the provisions of the Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note and associated guidance for grants, which allows for relief on services and goods provided in the UK to DFID aid programmes as a last resort, and on a case-by-case basis for DFID contracts and grants.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 06/05/2020 13:41:08 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1193072

	registered interest
	date	05/05/2020
	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: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2020 to Question 40723 on Overseas Aid: Coronavirus, how many FTE staff have been moved to work on (a) her Department's and (b) other Departments' covid-19 response.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	43721
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>DFID along with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is leading on the UK Government’s international response to COVID-19. DFID is surging staff internally to support this effort as its priority.</p><p>57 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff have been moved into a new central team coordinating the overall COVID-19 response and a further 4 FTE staff have been surged into this team from across government. Delivery of the response itself is spread across the Department, with many staff across our International, Economic Development, Policy, Science and Research and geographical/corporate Divisions focusing on the immediate COVID-19 response and longer-term recovery.</p><p>DFID has loaned staff with specific skillsets to other government departments in support of their COVID-19 work. 9 FTE staff have been deployed to support other government departments at this time.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 12/05/2020 16:31:56 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1226494

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2020
	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: Conditions of Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of (a) PCS and b) FDA unions on the roles of their members in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	76838
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/07/2020 answer text <p>DFID and FCO senior officials informed their respective Trade Union representatives as soon the creation of the new Department was announced. Consultations will continue throughout the process. Within DFID we have regular weekly engagement with our trade unions (FDA and PCS). These discussions have not yet involved the Secretary of State directly. We will formally consult as required on any specific areas of HR policy as work progresses.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 27/07/2020 14:30:01 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1190108

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2020
	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: Human Rights
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that funding allocated by her Department to prevent and tackle the spread of covid-19 in developing countries is not used to (a) support the security sectors and (b) facilitate human rights abuses in those countries.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	39733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2020 answer text <p>DFID has a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and aid diversion. Our Smart Rules framework, including pre-disbursement due diligence checks, project monitoring requirements and risk management processes, is designed to ensure that we spend wisely in all our programmes, particularly those delivering in high risk environments. We work closely with our implementing partners to ensure that DFID funds, in line with the International Development Act, are directed only to the aid outcomes or recipients they are intended for, with effective safeguards in place to maximise value for money for the UK taxpayer.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 01/05/2020 13:46:16 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill