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1193085

	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	Developing Countries: Ventilators
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many ventilators has the UK pledged to donate to developing countries.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	43693
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>The UK is helping to lead the global response to COVID-19. We are using UK aid to its full effect to counter the health, humanitarian, and economic risks and impact of this pandemic in the developing world. We are working hard to ensure that our help reaches those most in need through close collaboration with our partners. The UK has, to date, pledged £744 million of UK aid to help end this pandemic as quickly as possible.</p><p>Our funding is supporting a range of initiatives and partners to ensure that it can reach those who need it the most. This includes £75 million for the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help lead the international efforts to stop the spread of this virus and help access critical medical supplies, £55 million to International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement appeals to provide medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics, build quarantine areas and disinfection facilities and a range of support to NGOs.</p><p>The WHO and UNICEF are working with governments to identify requirements and ensure that supplies reach those in need, including the critical medical equipment for oxygen therapy.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 12/05/2020 16:17:32 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1193086

	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	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 she has plans to introduce a volunteering scheme to help developing countries have insufficient staff to support a covid-19 response.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	43694
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>Official responses to COVID-19 are heavily reliant on a range of volunteers, who are devoting their time and skills both at home in the UK and in developing countries. The new DFID-funded Global Standard for Volunteering sets a useful benchmark for how volunteers can be deployed in a responsible, effective and safe way.</p><p>DFID’s Volunteering for Development (V4D) programme, delivered in partnership with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), is working through volunteers to directly respond to the pandemic in 18 developing countries.</p><p>V4D volunteers are working within national response efforts to: ensure continued access to education for girls and children living with disabilities; strengthen health systems; improve emergency coordination systems; share key advice in accessible ways; and, support micro enterprise for the extreme poor.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 12/05/2020 16:18:38 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1193088

	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	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 discussions she has had with her (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) international partners on the UK's response to covid-19 in developing countries.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	43695
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>The Secretary of State regularly engages with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of matters including COVID-19 and its impact on developing countries.</p><p>The UK is taking decisive and co-ordinated action to support the global response to COVID-19, working with our international partners. The UK is also using its membership of the G7 and G20 to urge collective action and help drive a timely and effective international response. We are working closely with our G7 partners, including significant donors who are outside this group, for example the Netherlands, Norway and Australia, to agree priorities for immediate response to help countries deal with the immediate health and humanitarian impacts of the virus.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 12/05/2020 16:19:34 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1193090

	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	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 discussions has she had with her (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) international partners on prioritising developing countries in the global vaccine programme.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	43697
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>The Secretary of State regularly discusses efforts to accelerate the development of and global access to COVID19 vaccines with Ministerial colleagues as part of the UK international COVID19 response.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 12/05/2020 16:20:19 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1193091

	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	Africa: Locusts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps her Department has taken to mitigate the effect of locust plagues in Africa.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	43698
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>We are deeply concerned about the devastating locust outbreak in East Africa, which is destroying crops, livelihoods and essential food supplies. It is compounding the impact of humanitarian disasters, conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic, putting millions of people at risk of food insecurity.</p><p>To date the UK has provided £7 million to FAO’s regional appeal for surveillance, control and coordination activities, and the Department for International Development (DFID) has significant humanitarian and development programmes in the affected regions that are adapting to support vulnerable communities in response to the outbreak. The Desert Locust Control Organisation for Eastern Africa, based in Nairobi, has also been using a DFID-funded super computer to predict movements of locusts and geographically target the response.</p><p>Our support is having an immediate impact. We continue to monitor the situation closely and are ready to help further.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 12/05/2020 16:14:15 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1192750

	registered interest
	date	04/05/2020
	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, what covid-19 related financial support her Department has made available for charities based overseas.
	tabling member constituency	South Leicestershire
	tabling member printed	Alberto Costa
	uin	43058
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>Civil society organisations (CSOs), including charities based overseas, are key partners for DFID. Many of DFID’s programmes support local and international 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 overseas will be able to access some of this funding as downstream partners. Extra funding opportunities will also be available through DFID’s new partnership with Unilever to support hygiene practices in developing countries.</p><p>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 12/05/2020 16:51:25 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4439 label Biography information for Alberto Costa

1192716

	registered interest
	date	04/05/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Developing Countries: Debts
	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 her international counterparts on developing a debt-relief plan for developing countries.
	tabling member constituency	Putney
	tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
	uin	43183
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government is deeply concerned about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public finances of low-income developing countries. In this time of crisis, it is vital that creditors work together to ensure that servicing debts does not prevent countries protecting their citizens and economies.</p><p>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 $12 billion 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.</p><p>In the future, some countries, especially those entering the crisis with significant debt vulnerabilities may require debt relief. If debts do require restructuring or reduction, this will need to be done evenly amongst creditors, including non-Paris Club G20 creditors and the private sector. The G20 initiative provides more time to assess countries’ debt positions and explore possible solutions with other stakeholders whilst, importantly, freeing up resources to allow countries to respond to the crisis.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 12/05/2020 16:07:23 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
	tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1192718

	registered interest
	date	04/05/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	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 she is taking to help tackle the economic effects of covid-19 on local economies in developing countries.
	tabling member constituency	Putney
	tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
	uin	43184
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>The UK is actively supporting the poorest countries and most vulnerable people at a time when the secondary economic impacts of COVID-19 are running ahead of the health impacts in many countries.</p><p>First, we are supporting countries to free up the fiscal space that they need to reorient spending to responding to the crisis. The UK has made a leading contribution of up to £150 million to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust, to fund the poorest countries’ debt repayments to the IMF. The UK and other G20 countries have also committed to suspend debt service payments for International Development Association-eligible and the UN Least Developed Countries until the end of 2020, providing up to $12 billion of additional fiscal space. We are also providing advisory support to countries covering economic policy and their broader response, including trade-offs associated with containment measures.</p><p>Second, we are working with the International Financial Institutions to make additional resources available. We have committed to doubling our existing £2.2bn loan to the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, to support concessional financing for the poorest countries. The UK also pushed early for a capital increase of the World Bank in 2018 and, thanks to these efforts, the World Bank Group has been in a position to respond rapidly to this crisis, making $160bn of financing available over 15 months.</p><p>Third, at a time when many investors are retreating from these markets, CDC, the UK’s Development Finance Institution, is committed to investing patiently and working alongside other Development Finance Institutions to help companies access the finance they need and to protect supply chains and jobs overseas.</p><p>Fourth, the UK is also committed to directly supporting the most vulnerable people affected by the economic fallout of COVID-19. We are currently supporting social protection and/or humanitarian cash transfer programmes in 35 countries, in addition to wider support through multilateral institutions.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 12/05/2020 16:09:06 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
	tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1192719

	registered interest
	date	04/05/2020
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial support she is allocating to international NGOs to adapt pre-existing humanitarian assistance and food supply programmes to ensure continuity during the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Putney
	tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
	uin	43185
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>To date, the UK has committed £744 million to support global efforts to combat COVID-19. The UK is at the forefront of supporting those in need of humanitarian assistance and we are actively working with international partners to better track, monitor and respond to the impact of COVID-19 on food security for the most vulnerable. NGOs are a critical partner in meeting this huge challenge of tackling the virus. In addition to new and reallocated direct funding to NGOs, much of the UN’s work will be delivered on the ground by NGOs and the UK’s funding to the UN agencies will support these efforts.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 12/05/2020 16:30:08 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1192720

	registered interest
	date	04/05/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	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 help support the informal economy in developing countries during the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Putney
	tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
	uin	43186
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>DFID currently supports social protection and/or humanitarian cash transfer programmes in 35 countries, enabling the most vulnerable people - including those who work in the informal sector - to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19.</p><p>Beyond social protection, other DFID programmes are being adapted to support informal sector workers in response to COVID-19. For example, we are supporting the Kampala Capital City Authority with emergency provisions to assist the most vulnerable in the city, including providing shelter to vendors in the informal markets.</p><p>We have supported the Multilateral Development Banks to provide much-needed working capital for small businesses and supply chains, which informal workers depend on in developing countries.  This includes $8 billion of fast-tracked support from the International Finance Cooperation.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 12/05/2020 16:10:22 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
	tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson