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1052284

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Iraq: Politics and Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to support the development of democracy in Iraq.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	215164
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2019 answer text <p>​The UK supports the consolidation of democracy in Iraq through both diplomatic engagement and programme support. During my visit to Baghdad and Erbil in January, I welcomed the recent national elections and those in the Kurdistan region and encouraged swift completion of the formation of the Iraqi cabinet and Kurdistan Regional Government. We recently welcomed the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament and a delegation of Iraqi MPs to the UK where they were able to witness British parliamentary processes and exchange experiences. As part of our programme assistance, the UK is helping the Government of Iraq in newly liberated areas and in Basra to make governance and the delivery of services more effective and responsive, so strengthening relations between local communities and the Iraqi authorities.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 08/02/2019 13:46:38 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1054572

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Occupied Territories: Economic Situation
	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 develop long-term economic sustainability in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	216233
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>We have scaled up our work on economic development across the West Bank and Gaza. We are providing up to £38 million over five years (2018-2023) to help tackle the problems of low growth and high unemployment in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).</p><p> </p><p>Our support will focus on efforts to increase trade and job creation by working with the Palestinian and Israeli authorities to enable greater movement and access for people and goods, and improve water and energy supply, particularly in Gaza. We will also continue to support the implementation of Paris Protocol measures in relation to the transfer of taxes and fees Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA), and any measures agreed by the parties to transfer the responsibility of revenue collection. Our support in these areas will help thousands of Palestinians in their daily lives, support the financial sustainability of the PA and contribute to preserving the viability of the two-state solution.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 11/02/2019 17:43:19 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1015490

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2018
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Conflict Resolution: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress she has made on the implementation of the UK national action plan on women, peace and security 2018 to 2022, published in January 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	196175
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2018 answer text <p>The first annual report to Parliament on the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2018 – 2022 is expected to be published in December.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 03/12/2018 16:28:28 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1038558

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Syria: Internally Displaced People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian situation in the Rukban camp in Syria.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	206820
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2019 answer text <p>The UK is extremely concerned about the dire humanitarian situation of the 40,000 – 50,000 displaced Syrians currently stranded at Rukban camp. Whilst we were encouraged by the recent aid convoy that took place in November 2018, it is crucial that this is not viewed as a one-off event. A recent UN assessment highlighted in particular the major health and protection concerns caused by the lack of sustained access provided to humanitarian actors.</p><p> </p><p>The UK urges the Assad regime and its backers, in the strongest possible terms, to facilitate full humanitarian access to enable a second convoy with winter supplies to take place followed by regular and unrestricted aid deliveries thereafter.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 16/01/2019 17:12:46 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1015488

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2018
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Palestinians: Overseas Aid
	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 funding allocated by her Department from the public purse does not find its way into the hands of terrorists in the Palestinian Territories.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	196174
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2018 answer text <p>The UK has a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and robustly controls against the diversion of aid. We have strong controls in place to monitor spending, including due diligence assessments, annual financial audits of project spending and regular field visits; all to ensure that UK aid reaches the intended beneficiaries. DFID complies with UK and international counter terrorism legislation and DFID funding agreements commit partners to understand and comply with international counter terrorism legislation.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 05/12/2018 17:15:19 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1054570

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2019
	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: HIV Infection
	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 are taking to tackle the stigma associated with HIV in developing countries to ensure that to ensure people seek access to treatment.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	216231
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK government’s HIV response prioritises those still left behind by the huge progress made in recent years. These include adolescents, women and girls and under-served groups most affected by stigma, such as men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, sex workers and prisoners living with and affected by HIV.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For example, through the Robert Carr Civil Society Networks Fund we are supporting civil society networks of people affected by HIV to demand their rights, address stigma and discrimination and hold governments to account. The UK has committed £15 million to this Fund, since its start, to help champion their rights to access prevention and treatment services.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 11/02/2019 17:42:22 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1054604

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Egypt: Human Rights
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Egypt on the maintenance of human rights in Egypt.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	216260
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>Egypt is a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Priority Country and the UK continues to urge the Egyptian Government to ensure full implementation of the rights and freedoms set out in Egypt's Constitution. We regularly raise concerns about human rights with the Egyptian Government both in public and in private. I raised our human rights concerns with the Egyptian Foreign Minister during my visit to Cairo on 14 October 2018.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 12/02/2019 15:55:53 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1015485

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2018
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Overseas Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what mechanisms her Department has in place to monitor the spending of overseas aid to prevent abuse and corruption.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	196171
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2018 answer text <p>DFID operates in challenging contexts providing a wide spectrum of aid and assistance.</p><p>DFID has rigorous controls to ensure that aid reaches those for whom it is intended and delivers results.</p><p>DFID does not give money to organisations or governments if we are not confident that they will manage it well.</p><p> </p><p>DFID has a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and has in place a wide range of standard controls and measures to protect UK aid. These include:</p><ul><li><p>Rigorous risk assessments and monitoring requirements for all programmes. All DFID programmes are assessed at inception to identify and address the risk of aid diversion, such as weaknesses in a recipient’s financial systems. Where necessary, programmes will insist on extra measures of safeguard, and we will put in place arrangements such as continuous audits.</p></li><li><p>Proactive fraud risk management – better fraud prevention through good programme design and strong monitoring. We use monitoring visits, financial spot checks and audits to ensure all funding is used for the purpose it was intended.</p></li><li><p>Programme agreements and contracts which are designed to ensure partners are accountable for all funding we provide. We expect all international agencies to have the same zero tolerance approach to fraud that we have if they are to receive taxpayers’ money.</p></li><li><p>A rigorous process of due diligence, where partners must demonstrate accountable and transparent governance structures and financial procedures before we fund them. This provides assurance on their capacity and capability to deliver DFID programmes, allows DFID to identify and understand potential risks, and ascertain if these can be mitigated and managed. Due Diligence on programme partners includes an in-depth assessment of fraud risk.</p></li><li><p>Fraud awareness sessions risk management training for staff.</p></li><li><p>Regular internal and external audits.</p></li></ul><p>Where there is suspicion of corruption and fraud DFID will always take action; and if fraud or corruption is uncovered DFID will always work to recover UK taxpayers’ money.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 04/12/2018 17:34:59 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1038563

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2019
	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: Slavery
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what programmes her Department (a) promotes and (b) funds to tackle child slavery in developing countries.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	206822
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2019 answer text <p>DFID is at the forefront of the UK’s international efforts to end violence against, and abuse and exploitation of children – including the worst forms of child labour. We are promoting action to end modern slavery in all its forms in line with Sustainable Development Goals 16.2, 8.7 and 5.2 and as well as leading efforts to increase support for, and implementation of, the Prime Minister’s “Call to Action to end Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking” launched in 2017. The Call to Action has now endorsed by over 80 countries and we continue to work with governments, civil society and the private sector to push for action at all levels.</p><p>In 2017 the Government committed to doubling aid spending to tackle modern slavery to £150 million. We have exceeded this goal with UK aid committed now amounting to just over £200 million. DFID funded programmes make up the bulk of this aid and includes work to reduce vulnerability to exploitation and address the permissive environments which allow child exploitation to exist and thrive.</p><p>Full details of this work can be found at <a href="https://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/</a>. Examples include: a £26 million Regional Programme to tackle the worst forms of child labour in Asia (e.g. Bangladesh and Nepal); a £10 million Children on the Move Programme (in partnership with UNICEF) to protect up to 400,000 children at risk of violence and slavery in the Horn of Africa and along dangerous migratory routes in Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia; and a new £12 million UK Aid Connect Programme to address child labour in fragile and conflict affected states in Africa (such as the DRC).</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 16/01/2019 16:32:44 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1015491

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2018
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Global Financing Facility
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total amount of money is that the UK Government has provided towards funding the Global Financing Facility.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	196176
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2018 answer text <p>At the Global Financing Facility (GFF) replenishment on 6 November the UK pledged an additional £50m over 3 years from 2020. This is in addition to the £30m already pledged at last year’s Family Planning Summit in London. Our 2020 funding will be released on achievement of a set of reforms agreed between the UK and the GFF. This funding will increase domestic and private sector resources for child, adolescent and women’s health and nutrition.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 04/12/2018 17:31:23 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord