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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

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

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

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

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

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

1005908

registered interest
date	12/11/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve options for young people outside of academic study and qualifications.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	190438
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>Following our reforms to apprenticeships, we are making significant reforms to technical education, the centrepiece being the introduction of T levels - a high quality and rigorous technical alternative to academic education. T levels will be two-year classroom-based technical training programmes for 16 to 19 year olds, which include a technical qualification, work placement, English and maths and any other components required by employers. The first teaching of T levels will begin in September 2020 with all routes available from September 2022. We will be investing up to an additional £500 million a year on T levels once fully rolled out.</p><p>This builds on our reforms to apprenticeships, making them longer, better, with more off-the-job training and proper assessment at the end. We are also encouraging employers to take on younger apprentices aged 16 to 18, through incentives to employers and training providers. We have also introduced a new careers strategy which sets out how we will go further to make sure that young people can talk regularly to employers and training providers while they are still at school. This includes a new law, requiring all maintained schools and academies to make sure that there is an opportunity for a range of providers to talk to pupils from years 8 to 13 about approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships, so that they are aware of the different options.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 20/11/2018 16:14:08 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1005911

registered interest
date	12/11/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Further Education: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to remove barriers preventing students from disadvantaged backgrounds participate in further education.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	190440
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The 16 to 19 funding arrangements for school and college places include an element of disadvantage funding. This element of the funding is for providers to attract, retain and support disadvantaged students and to support students with special educational needs and disabilities. Disadvantage funding is provided to institutions for students with low prior attainment or for students who live in the most disadvantaged areas. For the 2018/19 academic year, we have allocated approximately £510 million to institutions for 16 to 19 year olds to provide extra support for students from disadvantaged areas.</p><p>The department also provides financial support for 16 to 19 year olds who are economically disadvantaged to help with costs associated with staying in post-16 education such as travel and course equipment. The 16-19 Bursary Fund is the main programme, but there is also residential and childcare support available. These programmes aim to enable 16 to 19 year olds to participate in education whatever their financial situation.</p><p>For those aged 19 and above, the Adult Education Budget provides financial support to help adult learners to overcome barriers that prevent them from taking part in learning. Through learner support, colleges and training providers have the discretion and flexibility to help learners meet costs such as travel, books, equipment and childcare. In addition, learning support, such as equipment, an interpreter or support worker, is available to meet the needs of learners with learning difficulties or disabilities. If the cost of support exceeds the fixed monthly rate that providers can claim or if the cost of support exceeds £19,000 per learner per year, providers can apply for exceptional learning support.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 20/11/2018 16:17:08 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1006879

registered interest
date	14/11/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Further Education: Pay and Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the increase in salary and pension costs in the further education sector in the next 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	191391
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2018 answer text <p>It is the responsibility of individual employers within the further education sector to set the salaries of their staff. For the period of 2019 to 2020, we estimate that £80 million more will need to be put into the Teacher Pensions Scheme by further education employers as a result of the recent revaluation.</p><p>Our intention is to fund general further education colleges and sixth form colleges, specialist designated institutions and adult and community learning providers for the increased costs resulting from the changes to the valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.</p><p>We will undertake a public consultation to make sure that we are allocating funding to where it is most needed. We expect to launch the consultation in December, with a response in January 2019. As the Local Government Pensions Scheme is due to be revalued in 2019, we are therefore unable to make estimates about employer costs until that valuation is completed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 22/11/2018 15:05:59 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1000292

registered interest
date	02/11/2018
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department taking to ensure that the agri-food sector is able to access non-UK seasonal workers after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	187350
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Darlington on 22 October, UIN 180695.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 12/11/2018 17:27:29 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord