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843538

registered interest
date	19/02/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Brazil: Overseas Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money her Department has spent on (a) direct aid and (b) providing assistance to (i) the Brazilian Government and (ii) projects in Brazil in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	127879
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2018 answer text <p>Since 2010 DFID has not provided any direct bilateral official development assistance (ODA) to Brazil. CDC made four equity investments in private companies in Brazil prior to 2012. The Newton Fund, the Global Challenge Research Fund and the International Climate Fund have funded projects in Brazil.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 26/02/2018 14:10:42 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

843880

registered interest
date	19/02/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how her Department conducts due diligence assessments and evaluates the commitment of its partners to the partnership principles and to promoting freedom of religion or belief.
tabling member constituency	East Antrim
tabling member printed	Sammy Wilson
uin	128149
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2018 answer text <p>All due diligence assessments on civil society organisations consider four areas: corporate governance and internal controls; ability to deliver the programme proposed; financial stability; and ability to manage downstream partners. They check for an ethics policy that includes coverage of human rights. A team of DFID staff under the supervision of a Head of Department carry out the assessment, drawing on specialist external expertise when required.</p><p>DFID assesses commitment to each of four Partnership Principles when considering providing funding to a government. This is done by specialist DFID Advisers under the supervision of a Head of Department. One of the Principles is ‘commitment to human rights’, which includes freedom of religion or belief. Evidence of lack of commitment to the Principles would influence choices on the amount and type of aid. DFID contractual and grant arrangements for organisations other than governments include specific clauses to prevent any discrimination against protected characteristics, including religion or belief.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 26/02/2018 12:20:12 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	1593 label Biography information for Sammy Wilson

843889

registered interest
date	19/02/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Department for International Development: Sexual Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what policies her Department has in place for its staff to report sexual harrassment and other non-consensual sexual behaviour; how many of her Department's staff have been reported for sexual harrassment and other non-consensual sexual activity in (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017; in how many cases such reports have led to the suspension, demotion or sacking of the staff in question; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
uin	128163
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2018 answer text <p><ins class="ministerial">All DFID staff are bound by both the Civil Service Code and DFID’s Code of Conduct, which set clear standards of conduct to protect all staff and anyone the organisation has contact with. These codes are well publicised to staff and cover any form of sexual exploitation and abuse, bullying, or harassment of staff, partners or beneficiaries and make clear that staff should not do anything in their private conduct which might discredit the department. DFID has mechanisms to allow staff raising concerns with management along with a distinct whistleblowing hotline which staff can use anonymously to report cases. A breach of any of the standards set out in our Code of Conduct can lead to formal disciplinary action and potential dismissal for gross misconduct.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">As previously announced by the Secretary of State, DFID is currently reviewing any locally reported allegations of sexual misconduct involving its own staff. This will complete shortly and therefore we are not currently in a position to share the detail of any cases.</ins></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">DFID’s Dignity at Work policy confirms that DFID is committed to achieving equality of opportunity for our staff and will not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, bullying or victimisation of employees, this includes sexual harassment and other non-consensual sexual activity. The policy applies to all staff and includes personal responsibilities to create and sustain a working environment free of bullying and harassment where individuals are treated with fairness, dignity and respect. The policy also makes clear how staff should report any concerns.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">DFID’s standards of conduct set out the ethical behaviours and controls required in our day to day work to incorporate the key principles based on the UN’s code on sexual exploitation and abuse in Humanitarian crises. DFID’s Public Interest Disclosure Policy (Whistleblowing) also allows staff and others to raise concerns anonymously to a confidential Email address.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The number of staff formally reported for sexual harassment in the last three years is:</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">2015 - nil</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">2016 - nil</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">2017 - under five.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The key policy documents referred to above have been placed in the House of Commons Library.</del></p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 26/02/2018 12:20:54 question first ministerially corrected 26/02/2018 18:27:23 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin previous answer version 42848 answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

844016

registered interest
date	19/02/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Coal Fired Power Stations
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 provides to developing countries that want to move towards clean coal technologies to meet their obligations under the Paris climate agreement.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	128376
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2018 answer text <p>DFID helps developing countries establish a secure and sustainable energy supply, supporting their economic growth and poverty reduction. DFID is not providing any bilateral assistance for coal-fired power. The Government supports multilateral organisations such as the World Bank to provide assistance for unabated coal-fired power projects overseas only in exceptional circumstances in the poorest countries where there is no feasible alternative. We do however support proposals for financing the additional costs of facilities fully deploying carbon capture and storage technologies.</p><p /><p /> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 26/02/2018 11:43:11 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

844064

registered interest
date	19/02/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Armed Conflict: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if her Department will publish a response to the report of Save The Children entitled War on Children, published in February 2018; and what steps her Department is taking better to protect children in those conflict zones referred to in the report.
tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
uin	128405
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2018 answer text <p>The UK is firmly committed to ensuring that the needs of children affected by conflict are addressed. 50% of DFID’s spending is directed towards fragile states and regions, including the many countries which Save the Children highlights are the most dangerous for children.</p><p>Our investment in protecting children in conflict zones is emphasised through our many multi-lateral and bilateral programmes around the world. Some of the examples of how we achieve this are as follows. We are the largest contributor to Education Cannot Wait, the first global movement aid fund dedicated to education in emergencies and protracted crises. Through this, we target some of the world’s most vulnerable children, aiming to reach 3.4 million children through its first set of investments. We contribute funds to the No Lost Generation Initiative, a commitment by the international community to support children and youth affected by the Syria and Iraq crises, mainly in education and protection. In Somalia, we work with the UN and international NGOs to ensure the rights of children affected by conflict are addressed through family reunification, support to their nutrition needs and reducing the risks faced by displaced children. In Yemen and Iraq we fund UN agencies to undertake critical child protection work. In Afghanistan we seek to change the way the conflict is fought to reduce child casualties and ensure that vulnerable children have access to supportive services.</p><p>We do not have plans to publish a response to Save the Children’s report, <em>The War on Children</em> - DFID officials are in regular contact with Save the Children on this agenda. We recently partnered to co-host a high level Wilton Park dialogue to address the mental health and psychosocial support needs of children affected by conflict in the Middle East.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 26/02/2018 11:38:44 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq

844109

registered interest
date	19/02/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Gaza: Borders
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 on health outcomes of the time taken to grant exit permits for Palestinians in Gaza seeking medical treatment elsewhere in the Occupied Palestinian Territory or abroad; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
tabling member printed	Richard Burden
uin	128449
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2018 answer text <p>The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently reported that 2017 saw the lowest rate of approvals of security permits for patients wishing to access healthcare outside of Gaza since WHO began monitoring in 2008, with 54% of patient applications approved on time. They report this has resulted in delays in care for patients, with potentially life threatening consequences. We continue to monitor the situation in Gaza closely and call on the Israeli government to ease restrictions further and for Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt to work together to ensure a durable solution for Gaza.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 23/02/2018 13:57:33 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

844118

registered interest
date	19/02/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Gaza: Borders
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent estimate she has made of the number of humanitarian and development items that have been delayed in entering or denied entry to Gaza by the Israeli authorities in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
tabling member printed	Richard Burden
uin	128458
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2018 answer text <p>The Department is aware of delays and denials of entry of items into Gaza. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is not currently consolidating data on these delays. We have requested UN OCHA to establish a mechanism for the collection of this data. DFID enables reconstruction efforts in Gaza through our support to the Materials Monitoring Unit of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism to monitor the import, storage, supply and use of construction materials. We welcome recent Israeli announcements to ease restrictions on the importation of material into Gaza for much needed infrastructure projects such as the proposed Central Gaza Desalination Plant and other waste water plants under construction, which many international donors are supporting.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 23/02/2018 13:58:34 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

838926

registered interest
date	08/02/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Yemen: International Assistance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure access for humanitarian aid to Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Aberdeen South
tabling member printed	Ross Thomson
uin	127488
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2018 answer text <p>As the Prime Minister set out in her November visit to Riyadh, the UK continues to call for complete and unhindered access for commercial and humanitarian imports of food, fuel and medical supplies particularly through the ports of Hodeidah and Saleef. Following the Secretary of State’s visit to Riyadh in December we were pleased to see the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lift all access restrictions. To encourage commercial imports which provide over 80% of Yemen’s food and fuel, we are providing £1.3 million to the UN’s Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) this financial year (2017/18) and have provided UK experts on the ground in Djibouti to increase the number of UNVIM inspections of commercial vessels entering Yemen.</p><p> </p><p>The UK will continue to play a leading role in the humanitarian response and efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. Our funding of £205 million to Yemen for 2017/18 makes us the third-largest humanitarian donor to Yemen overall, and the second-largest to the UN Humanitarian Appeal.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 20/02/2018 13:45:31 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	4599 label Biography information for Ross Thomson

838927

registered interest
date	08/02/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	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 steps she is taking to help tackle modern slavery in developing countries.
tabling member constituency	Aberdeen South
tabling member printed	Ross Thomson
uin	127489
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2018 answer text <p>Tackling modern slavery is a cross-government priority, and DFID is committed to driving change through the UN and other multilateral channels. At last year’s UN General Assembly, our Prime Minister launched the “Call to Action to end Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking”, which has been endorsed by 43 countries from all regions of the world. We will continue to push for more country endorsements and ensure that it delivers action on the ground.</p><p>We are also expanding our work in developing countries to tackle the root causes of slavery and support victims, whilst addressing the factors that enable the criminality of modern slavery to thrive. As part of the Prime Minister’s commitment to double ODA spend on modern slavery to £150 million, DFID is developing £40 million of new programming which will help over 500,000 vulnerable men, women and children.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 20/02/2018 13:45:55 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	4599 label Biography information for Ross Thomson

838931

registered interest
date	08/02/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Colombia and Lesotho: Taxation
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 the Chancellor of Exchequer on the (a) process of negotiation and (b) ratifying the UK’s tax treaties with (i) Lesotho and (ii) Columbia.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	127493
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2018 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for International Development has not had any discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on tax treaty negotiations between the UK and Lesotho and Colombia.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC is the lead department for the negotiation of the UK’s tax treaties, reporting to HM Treasury Ministers. HMRC seeks views from a range of interested parties, including DFID, and then takes a judgement about which countries to seek to engage with. DFID supports this approach which led to recent successful negotiations with Colombia and Lesotho.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 20/02/2018 13:46:12 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe