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1087519

registered interest
date	12/03/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Pakistan: Public Sector
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Pakistan Annual Statistical Bulletin of Federal Government Employees 2017–18, published by the government of Pakistan on 26 February, what assessment they have made of (1) the number of people employed from that country’s religious minorities, (2) the nature of the occupations open to them, and (3) the numbers working in either menial jobs or senior management grades; and what assessment they have made of the impact that UK aid programmes have had on those statistics.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL14445
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>We have not conducted an assessment of the composition of federal government employees as reported in the Annual Statistical Bulletin of Federal Government Employees 2017–18. However, DFID and the FCO continue to raise the issue of human rights of minorities at the highest levels of government, including in our annual Bilateral Assistance Talks. We advocate greater tolerance and action against abuses when they occur. DFID Pakistan’s Skills Development Programme will provide 330,000 poor and vulnerable people, including those from minority communities, with technical and vocational training to improve their employment prospects.</p><p> </p><p>Our aid relationship with any government is based on an assessment of its commitment to our Partnership Principles, including to promote and safeguard human rights. Our aid targets the poor, regardless of race, religion, social background or nationality. Our portfolio of programmes contributes either directly or indirectly to the protection of minority rights by strengthening systems for delivery of services and by adopting a ‘do no harm’ approach.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 25/03/2019 16:10:50 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1078269

registered interest
date	26/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Pakistan: Overseas Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much aid they provided to Pakistan over the past year; and what proportion of this aid was used to support efforts to end child abduction, forced conversion and illegal marriages.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL14041
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2019 answer text <p>The UK provided £282m to Pakistan for the financial year 2018/19. Under the AAWAZ I programme (which ended in May 2018) around £400,000 was spent on preventing forced and early marriages. Some of these beneficiaries may also have been affected by forced conversion or child abduction. Under new programming, we plan to spend around £1.88 million in preventing early and forced marriages. This includes enactment of the policy and legislative framework and capacity building support of key government institutions.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 11/03/2019 17:28:07 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1078270

registered interest
date	26/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Pakistan: Overseas Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to divert aid given to Pakistan to training law enforcement officers in the emotional needs of the parents of kidnapped children, and in providing families with practical assistance.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL14042
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2019 answer text <p>HMG has no plans to use aid specifically to support families of kidnapped children in Pakistan. The UK is supporting the implementation of the 2018 Juvenile Justice System Act (JJSA) which will help protect the legal rights of juvenile victims, witnesses and alleged offenders. Part of this will include working with law enforcement officers and families.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 11/03/2019 17:28:26 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1064579

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	South Sudan: Forced Marriage
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations made in the report by Oxfam Born to Be Married: Addressing child, early and forced marriage in Nyal, South Sudan, published on 18 February, in particular the recommendation to integrate the prevention of, and response to, child, early, and forced marriage with women’s empowerment activities in humanitarian and development planning and programming at all stages of the programme cycle.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL13898
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The UK welcomes Oxfam’s report into child, early and forced marriage (CEFM). The shocking number of girls married before the age of 18 in Nyal demonstrates how women and girls are suffering the worst effects of this brutal crisis.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>UK aid considers gender at all stages of the humanitarian and development programme cycle. Specifically, we support several efforts to integrate CEFM prevention and response, and women’s empowerment activities into our work. Education is a key factor enabling girls to avoid child marriage and our Girls Education South Sudan (GESS) programme is keeping up to a quarter of a million girls in school. We also work with International Medical Corps in Nyal and other areas of the country to improve awareness of CEFM and to provide women and girls with information on all forms of gender-based violence, rights and services available. The programme also engages women in income generating activities and provides support to help them set up their own businesses.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 04/03/2019 14:56:55 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1059612

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 12 February (HL13192), whether they will now answer the question put.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL13635
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2019 answer text <p>We have regular discussions about the importance of religious freedom and inclusion in all aspects of public policy, including employment, but we have not specifically raised the issue of the advertisements.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are not aware of any cases of discrimination on the grounds of religion linked with programmes supported by DFID to create employment, including in the public sector. Our Partnership Agreement with the Government of Pakistan makes clear that commitment to human rights (including minority and religious rights) is vital and discrimination in the delivery of UK aid is not acceptable. Compliance with this and other key Partnership Principles is reviewed on an annual basis.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As mentioned in the previous answer, DFID Pakistan’s Skills Development Programme will provide 330,000 poor and vulnerable people, including those from minority communities, with technical and vocational training to improve their employment prospects.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 26/02/2019 17:20:33 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1054324

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	Overseas Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they collect data on Department for International Development allocations by religion; if not, why not; and if not, whether they have considered the consistency of not collecting such data with the obligations under the Equalities Act 2010 in regard to religion.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL13381
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>DFID does not currently identify or record beneficiaries by their religion; however, our Data Disaggregation Action Plan has set out our increased ambitions to increase the level of disaggregated data we collect, report and use, and to work with the United Nations and others to improve data collection and disaggregation at a global level. Our short-term focus remains on four disaggregates (sex, age, disability status and geography) in the first instance to help us reorient our approach and raise our ambition whilst we work with others in the international system to find and develop tools, methods and guidance on further disaggregation variables.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is firmly committed to ensuring aid reaches the most vulnerable, including those from religious minorities, where they constitute part of that category. In line with the Equality Act 2010, DFID operates by the humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality which aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion; and to also ensure that the specific risks facing religious minorities are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 11/02/2019 17:43:34 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1054325

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	Department for International Development: Equality
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how the Department for International Development (DfID) records the religion and other protected characteristics of those it employs; how funding is allocated to organisations after consideration of protected characteristics; and how DfID ensures that those non-governmental organisations, private sector companies, consultancies, and others with whom it contracts are required to report on how they have performed in ensuring equity of access to their work by those with protected characteristics.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL13382
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>Employees can voluntarily declare their diversity data on our HR systems.</p><p> </p><p>DFID contracts are awarded after a process of fair and open competition on the basis of value for money, capability to deliver programme outputs and, as relevant to the specific procurement, equality considerations. DFID’s standard contract Term and Conditions require partners not to unlawfully discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, have due regard for the advancement of equal opportunity and promote good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Partners are also required to adhere to relevant recommendations by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. DFID’s Supply Partner Code of Conduct requires contractors to ensure that robust procedures are adopted and maintained to eliminate the risk of poor human rights practices, including any inequality or discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, religion, sexuality, culture or disability. Both requirements are legally binding and subject to compliance checks by DFID.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 18/02/2019 16:14:12 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1050765

registered interest
date	29/01/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Pakistan about employment discrimination, with particular regard to advertisements published by that government which reserve low level jobs, such as street sweeping, for religious minorities; whether UK aid supports employment opportunities in the public sector closed to religious minorities; and whether they support programmes which help illiterate members of religious minorities in that country to improve their employment prospects.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL13192
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>Our aid relationship with any government is based on an assessment of their commitment to our Partnership Principles, including to promote and safeguard human rights. Our development assistance targets the poor, regardless of race, religion, social background or nationality. We promote the Partnership Principles in our dealings with the Pakistan Government, and this extends to economic development and employment. The Partnership Principles Assessment (PPA) is regularly discussed with the Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan, at the federal level and we discussed it formally last year at the Bilateral Assistance Talks in March. We also have specific programmes to help the poorest become more equipped for work. DFID Pakistan’s Skills Development Programme will provide 330,000 poor and vulnerable people, including those from minority communities, with technical and vocational training to improve their employment prospects.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>DFID and the FCO continue to raise the issue of human rights of minorities at the highest levels of Government, including in our annual Bilateral Assistance Talks, advocating greater tolerance and action against abuses when they occur.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 12/02/2019 16:05:51 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1046301

registered interest
date	22/01/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Iraq: Christianity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 21 January (HL12614), what assessment they have made of the comments of Chaldean Archbishop Habib Nafali of Basra that the Christian population of Iraq has reduced from around 1.5 million in 2003 to 250,000 in 2018.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL13010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2019 answer text <p>The exact number of Christians in Iraq is difficult to confirm, as Iraq has not held a nationwide census in many years. The UK remains concerned by the decreasing number of Christians and we are firmly committed to protecting all ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and the region. Minister Burt met with the Archbishop of Erbil during his recent trip to Iraq, and UK Embassy staff regularly meet with representatives of Christian and other minority communities to discuss their situation. We continue to raise the needs of these communities with the Government of Iraq. For example, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon reinforced the need to protect ethnic and religious minority communities with Iraqi Foreign Minister Al-Hakim in December 2018.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 05/02/2019 17:34:49 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1041191

registered interest
date	14/01/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	UN High Commissioner for Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has a consistent policy on resettling asylum seekers who claim that atheism or religious beliefs will lead to their persecution if returned to their countries of origin; if they have found that it is not consistent, what steps they are taking to ensure it is; how many such claimants have submitted applications to the UNHCR in Thailand; and how long, on average, it takes for such applications to be processed.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL12773
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2019 answer text <p>UNHCR is mandated to protect all refugees and other displaced persons, including those who fear persecution on the basis of religion. UNHCR’s procedures and criteria for determining refugee status include religious persecution, in line with the Refugee Convention. Where religious belief causes or heightens the risk a refugee faces, UNHCR will take this into consideration when assessing specific vulnerabilities, and determining the appropriate protection interventions (including but not limited to resettlement).</p><p> </p><p>HMG does not hold information on the number of asylum claims submitted to UNHCR in Thailand, or elsewhere; this information is held by UNHCR. Individual data is considered private and confidential and not normally shared with third parties (and never without the specific consent of the individual). Furthermore, UNHCR does not routinely identify or record beneficiaries by their religion where this has no bearing on their case. The reason for this is because there is a risk that collecting information about the ethnicity or religion of people receiving aid could be obtained by others, including extremist groups, and used to persecute them.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 28/01/2019 11:32:14 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool