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518782

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2016
	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: Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ensure that the new Education Cannot Wait fund will focus on the most marginalised children, including girls and children with disabilities.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL76
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/06/2016 answer text <p>The UK has played a leading role in the development of Education Cannot Wait – a fund for education in emergencies. A key focus for Education Cannot Wait will be on ensuring that marginalised children and young people are able to access a quality education. This includes refugees and internally displaced children, as well as children facing barriers to their education because of their gender, disability or other factors.</p><p>This focus is reflected in the Fund’s indicative headline results, which commits to providing “Inclusive education [that] reaches the most marginalised children and young people in crises” with a target of “100% of supported education opportunities demonstrate increase in education for girls, disabled and those in remote locations”.</p><p>The UK will continue to engage closely during Education Cannot Wait’s inception phase, to ensure that this commitment is fully reflected in its final design and results frameworks.</p> answering member printed Baroness Verma question first answered 02/06/2016 15:48:27 answering member 3790 label Biography information for Baroness Verma
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

752410

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government (1) what contact they have had with, and (2) what support they intend to provide to, the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee, regarding (a) the rebuilding of 13,000 homes on the Nineveh Plains, and (b) the need to ensure that those Christians internally displaced from the Plains are provided with adequate food supplies.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL856
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2017 answer text <p>The UK Government recognises the specific risks such as abduction and murder faced by religious minorities in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands of Daesh, and is deeply concerned by reports of human rights abuses motivated by religious or ethnic identity.</p><p>All people in need, from any community, irrespective of religious affiliation, are eligible for humanitarian assistance. DFID’s humanitarian implementing partners, including the UN, consider a wide range of issues when assessing an individual’s vulnerability such as the impact of physical or mental disabilities, income, age, missing family members, and whether individuals are already receiving assistance from other sources.</p><p>The organisations through which we channel our support do not identify or record beneficiaries by their religion. 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>We do not therefore hold information on how much UK-funded support is channelled to Yezidis and Christians either inside or outside camps. This year the UK will provide £40 million for urgent humanitarian assistance in Iraq and £4 million for the UN’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation (FFIS) to help rebuild communities affected by Daesh, including for minority communities in newly liberated areas in Iraq. The UK is also providing £500 million to support people, including refugees and internally displaced Syrians, affected by the Syria crisis in 2017. DFID does not fund the Bishops Emergency Committee.</p><p>The Nineveh Reconstruction Committee comprised of Church representatives has not contacted the UK Government or submitted a proposal for UK support for the construction of homes on the Nineveh Plains.</p><p>The UK is funding the UN’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation (FFIS), which is supporting 152 projects in mainly Christian communities in the Ninewa Plains and 70 projects in Yezidi communities in Sinjar, Rabia and Sinuni.</p><p>UN agencies are obliged to operate 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 minorities are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. DFID considers reports from a wide range of sources, including field visits by UK officials where these are possible, to assess the effectiveness of UN operations and their compliance with humanitarian principles. The UN carries out vital work in both Syria and Iraq, and UN staff frequently risk their lives to deliver assistance to people in need, including to areas where Daesh or the Assad regime seek to prevent aid being delivered.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL852 HL854 HL855 question first answered 25/07/2017 15:00:41 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

732060

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how much it has cost to repair storm damage to Calshot Harbour on Tristan da Cunha from 1987 to date.
	tabling member printed	Lord Jones
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL113
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2017 answer text <p>DFID invested £16.1m to maintain and repair Calshot Harbour in Tristan da Cunha between 2000 and 2016. Financial information prior to 2000 is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost to the taxpayer.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 28/06/2017 15:59:52 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	530 label Biography information for Lord Jones

1201009

	registered interest
	date	08/06/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	World Health Organization: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how much they have contributed to the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 Response Fund.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL5355
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK has contributed £75 million to help the WHO lead international efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and end the pandemic.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 16/06/2020 11:10:11 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1200281

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Myanmar: Humanitarian Aid
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how much, in total, the UK has provided in aid funding for humanitarian assistance to Burmese Chin refugees in Malaysia and Delhi.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL5178
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK provides humanitarian assistance to Chin refugees in Malaysia and India via the UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency. The UK has provided UNHCR with predictable, core, unearmarked funding of £35 million per year since 2012, currently as part of a four-year (2017-2020) programme of support alongside other UN humanitarian agencies. In India and Malaysia UNHCR provides support to refugees, including ethnic Chins, comprising advocacy, legal representation, community outreach and assistance programmes.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 17/06/2020 16:34:53 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

747381

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how the Department for International Development's strategic vision and plans reflect the specific recommendations of the UN High Level Panel (1) to support informal women workers, and (2) to invest in the recognition, redistribution and reduction of women's unpaid care work.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Goudie
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL345
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2017 answer text <p>In January 2017 the Department for International Development launched an Economic Development Strategy which includes a strong emphasis on supporting women workers to overcome barriers to opportunities; including unpaid care.</p><p>DFID is already supporting informal women workers to secure property rights and increase their access to finance and markets. In the Niger Delta DFID is working with women farmers and entrepreneurs to increase yields and sales from cassava, palm oil and fisheries.</p><p>New partnerships with business under the Work and Opportunities for Women programme, will improve job opportunities and working conditions for informal women workers in supply chains, with the intention of also addressing the burden of unpaid care.</p><p>In addition, the Department’s research on women’s economic empowerment has increased global recognition and commitments on the importance of an increased focus on care.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 10/07/2017 13:46:18 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3575 label Biography information for Baroness Goudie

747380

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how they are implementing the recommendations of the UN Secretary General's High Level Panel on women's economic empowerment.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Goudie
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL344
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2017 answer text <p>The UK is a founding member of the UN Secretary General’s High Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment.</p><p>In response to the Panel, DFID is working to deliver better jobs and working conditions across supply chains, increase access to finance and rights to land and tackle legal barriers and discrimination. For example, DFID’s new Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW) programme, will work with businesses in some of the poorest countries to improve job opportunities and working conditions for at least 300,000 women in global supply chains.</p><p>The UK has a strong domestic story. In April this year the UK became one of the first countries to introduce mandatory gender pay gap reporting for businesses over 250 employees. We are also working with business to achieve 33% of women on boards by 2020 and eliminate all-male boards in the FTSE 350.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 10/07/2017 10:45:23 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3575 label Biography information for Baroness Goudie

1200362

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2020
	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: Family Planning
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how they ensure (1) the availability of, and (2) equitable access to, sexual and reproductive health and rights services is included as part of the essential package of health services for their COVID-19 response overseas.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL5257
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK proudly continues to work with our key partners, including UN agencies, national governments and civil society, to protect and advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), to ensure that decades of progress toward securing universal access are not reversed by the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>We remain committed to supporting the Minimum Initial Service Package for Reproductive Health in Crises and have provided UNFPA with an additional £10 million for life-saving SRH services as part of the global humanitarian response plan to COVID-19.</p><p>The UK-aid funded Global Financing Facility is continuing to support governments to maintain health systems in 36 affected countries, with a focus on protecting reproductive, maternal and newborn health services. Our flagship SRHR programme ‘WISH’ is delivering desperately-needed services and supplies during the pandemic across 27 countries, including increasing use of technologies, more self-care delivery and working to ensure SRHR is part of national COVID-19 essential service delivery. Ensuring that no-one is left behind is key to this effort. Local radio and SMS are providing critical messages on SRHR and COVID-19 to those living in remote areas. Where possible, fee waiver schemes are removing cost-barriers for the poorest and community outreach services continue in rural areas where it remains safe to do so.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 11/06/2020 10:54:56 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1200363

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2020
	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: Health Services and Social Services
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how they ensure that their overseas programmes support front-line health and social workers and caregivers with equitable access to training, personal protective equipment and other essential products, taking into the account the specific needs of women.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL5258
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK recognises the critical role of front-line health, social and care workers, particularly now. We know that women make up 70% of global frontline health workers and are often the first responders in a crisis. UK aid helps provide these workers with the resources they need.</p><p>For the global COVID-19 response, we have pledged £75 million to WHO, to help the organisation lead international efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and end the pandemic. This includes support to front-line health workers with equitable access to training and essential medical supplies, including Personal Protective Equipment. We are also investing £20 million in the African Union’s and Africa Centres for Disease Control COVID-19 response, to fund the deployment of African health experts and provide specialist training for clinicians.</p><p>DFID programmes also support capacity building for health professionals. The new five-year, £30 million UK Partnerships for Health Systems programme will build a better-skilled health workforce in countries across Africa and South Asia, training health workers including nurses and midwives.</p><p>We are already a leading global health donor, and an advocate for public health investment to achieve universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3. Investment in, recruiting and retaining skilled healthcare professionals is critical to achieve the Global Goals and meet our manifesto commitment to end preventable deaths of women, children and new-borns.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 16/06/2020 11:08:30 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

732729

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how they expect the EU Refugee Facility for Turkey 2016–17, which helps refugees and internally displaced persons, will be spent; and what proportion of those funds will be allocated to education and training.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL167
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2017 answer text <p>The European Union Facility for Refugees in Turkey helps build schools, provide health services and makes social welfare payments for the most vulnerable refugees, and provides vital municipal infrastructure such as waste management and water treatment facilities to alleviate pressure on Turkish communities hosting refugees.</p><p>As of May 2017, 42% of the facility has been spent on education. Almost half a million Syrian refugee children have access to education and 20,000 Syrian volunteer teachers have received training in improved teaching techniques.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 03/07/2017 12:18:31 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

751993

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Nuclear Power
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how they intend to ensure their emergency funding for displaced people from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains reaches displaced minorities such as the Yazidis and Christians; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which their policy of neutrality and impartiality will lead to the inclusion or exclusion of those who have been subject to genocide.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL828
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2017 answer text <ul><li>The UK Government recognises the specific risks faced by religious minorities in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands of Daesh. We are aware of reports that fear of persecution or discrimination in camps may be deterring some people from using them, and are in close touch with our partners involved in the management of camps and the delivery of services within them, including UN agencies. They have clear guidelines, mechanisms and accountability frameworks in place to prevent discrimination by their own staff or those of their partners. DFID takes any allegations that these are not being applied effectively very seriously, and stands ready to follow up specific allegations with the partners concerned.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The security of the camps and all those living in them is the responsibility of the appropriate civil authorities (e.g. in Iraq, it lies with the Government of Iraq) and is monitored by independent humanitarian actors such as UNHCR. UK officials stand ready to report any specific allegations of persecution or violence against religious minorities within the camps to those authorities. The Government is concerned about Daesh infiltration inside camps. In Iraq the Iraqi authorities carry out screening of those entering camps in order to seek to prevent such infiltration. UN agencies have set up grievance mechanisms that allow any minority member to anonymously report abuse, persecution or discrimination; these can also be used to report on suspected extremist activity.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID’s funding for Iraq is targeted towards those who are most in need including vulnerable people from minority communities such as Yazidis and Christians. It is delivered in line with the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for the whole of Iraq, which is based on comprehensive needs assessments carried out by a wide range of partners. The humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion, that the specific risks facing minorities are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. In the difficult environments in Syria and Iraq, where access to vulnerable people is often very challenging especially as some actors such as Daesh and the Assad regime deliberately prevent humanitarian access, DFID regularly challenges our partners to demonstrate that they are doing all they can to meet the needs the most vulnerable people, including those from religious minorities. We welcome information from all sources to help us to hold them to account.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID is not aware of scheduled meetings in 2015 with Christian representatives in Iraq that officials did not attend, but DFID officials regularly meet with representatives of Iraqi Christian and Yezidi communities. DFID Ministers have also met representatives of these communities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID has received Dr Russell Blacker’s correspondence and has responded suggesting a meeting is organised with Dr Blacker, Lord Bates and Mr Burt to discuss together.</li></ul> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL829 HL830 HL831 question first answered 20/07/2017 16:23:20 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1200287

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2020
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how they are supporting responses to the COVID-19 pandemic which seek to address (1) the immediate, and (2) the underlying, causes of conflict and violence; and what steps they are taking to make sure Official Development Assistance supports communities to manage any increase in social tensions as a result of the pandemic.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Goudie
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL5185
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK is pursuing a strong and co-ordinated global response to COVID-19, particularly for the most vulnerable countries. We recognise the risk that responses to the pandemic in some contexts may include politicisation, exploitation and securitisation, which may risk fuelling grievances, triggering violent instability, dividing societies and emboldening conflict actors.</p><p>The UK is taking steps to ensure that both our immediate responses to COVID-19 and long-term recovery efforts do not exacerbate conflict and instead help to build peace, improve governance and strengthen social cohesion. We are encouraging our implementing partners to demonstrate accountability, strengthen local owner- and leadership and adopt inclusive, conflict sensitive approaches. We are also working with partners, governments, media providers, civil society and local leaders to counter misinformation. DFID and the FCO are working together to encourage state and security responses that are transparent, proportionate, fair and promote human rights as a core part of the UK response.</p><p>We particularly recognise the importance of working with local women’s rights and women-led organisations to deliver more effective and safer responses. We also believe that greater engagement of local partners ensures continuity and builds resilience and social cohesion as efforts shift to the medium and longer term recovery.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 19/06/2020 11:39:54 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	3575 label Biography information for Baroness Goudie

731047

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what action the Department for International Development (DfID) is taking to promote Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which promulgates freedom of religion and belief; how that action relates to (1) Sustainable Development Goal 16, and (2) DfID’s UK aid strategy objectives, and to the allocation of resources; and what steps they are taking to ensure that DfID's partners and projects do not discriminate on religious grounds.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL55
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2017 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) leads the government’s work to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief internationally. DFID works closely with FCO, helping to raise concerns about discriminatory legislation and practices with governments, and funding targeted project work. We are clear that promoting freedom of religion or belief is an important contributor to achieving the UK Aid Strategy’s goals and is directly relevant to Sustainable Development Goal 16 on building peaceful and inclusive societies with access to justice for all and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. DFID’s Partnership Principles include consideration of freedom of religion or belief alongside other human rights.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 28/06/2017 16:13:57 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

752498

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking concerning the reported confiscation and destruction of EU-funded humanitarian aid projects in the West Bank.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL944
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2017 answer text <p>We have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our serious concern at the increase in demolitions and confiscations in Area C of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The European Union (EU) has not to date asked for compensation for EU-funded infrastructure. No decision has been made yet as to whether to claim compensation in the future.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 24/07/2017 13:48:35 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

752497

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking concerning the reported delays in ambulance response times to treat injured and sick Palestinians.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL943
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2017 answer text <p>Ambulance and permit delays can lead to missed appointments and interrupted treatments, endangering the health and lives of patients. The UK has consistently called on the Israeli Government to ease movement and access restrictions that reduce access to medical care for Palestinians. The UK supports essential health services in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through funding to the Palestinian Authority and UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 24/07/2017 13:51:16 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1203575

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Gaza: New Businesses
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to encourage new technological enterprises in Gaza.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL5729
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK is more than tripling spend on Economic Development programming in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) and we will provide £58 million between 2018 – 2023. This includes helping improve water and energy supply, particularly in Gaza, and addressing movement and access restrictions that currently inhibit trade. By focussing on these issues, we aim to improve daily life and opportunities for thousands of Palestinians.</p><p>The FCO and British Council also provide funding to the OPT’s to support our commitment to educating tomorrow’s academics, scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs, including in digital skills. The Chevening scholarship programme and Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians (HESPAL) provide support to Palestinians to access the best of UK university education and expertise. The @Palestine project is working to develop the English skills of Palestinian youth to enable them to engage in the global digital economy.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 25/06/2020 16:50:46 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

752493

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to support those living in Gaza who have been deprived of electricity and of phone and internet access.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL939
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2017 answer text <p>The UK is working closely with the United Nations (UN) to monitor the situation in Gaza. We urge all the parties to find a sustainable solution to the current energy situation that is affecting services such as electricity and phone and internet access. In Gaza, the UK is funding basic service delivery through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, enabling reconstruction work, and investing in job creation.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 24/07/2017 13:48:11 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1203576

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Palestinians: Health Services
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking, if any, to ensure that health services in Palestine have sufficient medical facilities and expertise in (1) the West Bank, and (2) Gaza, to enable those services to care for those with serious medical problems without the need to enter Israeli territory for treatment.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL5730
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK has pledged £764 million to support the global humanitarian response to COVID-19. We have delivered additional vital support in the Occupied Palestinian Territories by providing funding to the World Health Organization and UNICEF to purchase and co-ordinate the delivery of medical equipment, treat critical care patients, train frontline public health personnel and scale up laboratory testing capacity. Minister Cleverly also recently announced £20 million in new funding, which will help the Palestinian Authority support its health workers who have been on the frontline battling coronavirus and who help deliver life-saving medical services.</p><p>We also provided around £16 million in humanitarian assistance in 2019/20 to alleviate humanitarian and health needs in the OPTs. This included establishing a centralised surgical multi-disciplinary limb reconstruction unit, strengthening trauma care, enhancing the ambulance system, and training paramedics and frontline providers in Gaza. Our funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) also helps provide health services for around 3.5 million people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/06/2020 16:22:42 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

752014

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken to ensure that UK funding which is intended to mitigate the migration crisis in the central Mediterranean is not used to finance the indefinite detention of migrant and refugee children.
	tabling member printed	Lord Judd
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL849
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2017 answer text <p>The UK contribution to the Mediterranean migration crisis is delivered through trusted humanitarian agencies such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Through these agencies, UK aid in detention centres is specifically designed to protect migrants’ and refugees’ human rights and meet basic needs, including by advocating for alternatives to detention for vulnerable groups like children. We also assist migrants to return home, if they wish to do so.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 20/07/2017 16:25:24 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	1660 label Biography information for Lord Judd

751995

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) that Christians and Yazidis who have been victims of genocide in Syria and Iraq do not use UN camps because of oppression and persecution that they have experienced within them, and (2) from Jordanian military officials that ISIS jihadis have infiltrated many such camps.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL830
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2017 answer text <ul><li>The UK Government recognises the specific risks faced by religious minorities in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands of Daesh. We are aware of reports that fear of persecution or discrimination in camps may be deterring some people from using them, and are in close touch with our partners involved in the management of camps and the delivery of services within them, including UN agencies. They have clear guidelines, mechanisms and accountability frameworks in place to prevent discrimination by their own staff or those of their partners. DFID takes any allegations that these are not being applied effectively very seriously, and stands ready to follow up specific allegations with the partners concerned.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The security of the camps and all those living in them is the responsibility of the appropriate civil authorities (e.g. in Iraq, it lies with the Government of Iraq) and is monitored by independent humanitarian actors such as UNHCR. UK officials stand ready to report any specific allegations of persecution or violence against religious minorities within the camps to those authorities. The Government is concerned about Daesh infiltration inside camps. In Iraq the Iraqi authorities carry out screening of those entering camps in order to seek to prevent such infiltration. UN agencies have set up grievance mechanisms that allow any minority member to anonymously report abuse, persecution or discrimination; these can also be used to report on suspected extremist activity.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID’s funding for Iraq is targeted towards those who are most in need including vulnerable people from minority communities such as Yazidis and Christians. It is delivered in line with the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for the whole of Iraq, which is based on comprehensive needs assessments carried out by a wide range of partners. The humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion, that the specific risks facing minorities are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. In the difficult environments in Syria and Iraq, where access to vulnerable people is often very challenging especially as some actors such as Daesh and the Assad regime deliberately prevent humanitarian access, DFID regularly challenges our partners to demonstrate that they are doing all they can to meet the needs the most vulnerable people, including those from religious minorities. We welcome information from all sources to help us to hold them to account.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID is not aware of scheduled meetings in 2015 with Christian representatives in Iraq that officials did not attend, but DFID officials regularly meet with representatives of Iraqi Christian and Yezidi communities. DFID Ministers have also met representatives of these communities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID has received Dr Russell Blacker’s correspondence and has responded suggesting a meeting is organised with Dr Blacker, Lord Bates and Mr Burt to discuss together.</li></ul> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL828 HL829 HL831 question first answered 20/07/2017 16:23:20 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

731002

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of supporting the installation of assisted natural ventilation in hospitals in developing countries, particularly in relation to (1) energy costs, (2) the spread of infection, and (3) electrical resilience.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hunt of Chesterton
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL21
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2017 answer text <p>DFID does not generally invest directly in hospitals, although we do support investment in strengthening health systems in developing countries. We recognise the benefits of using well designed natural ventilation where appropriate, including to reduce energy costs and prevent the spread of infection, as set out in World Health Organisation guidance on standards of infection control in health facilities. This provides advice on natural ventilation for infection control, allowing the creation of affordable and sustainable healthcare facilities that are safe for patients and healthcare workers.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 29/06/2017 14:51:17 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	2543 label Biography information for Lord Hunt of Chesterton

732099

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the definition of vulnerability as used by UNHCR to identify those refugees in Jordan most in need of assistance.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL152
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2017 answer text <p>UNHCR uses a robust set of vulnerability criteria targeting disabilities, income, age, and missing family members. Multiple partners contribute data to UNHCR’s analytical system, which permits better targeting of aid.</p><p>Following the World Humanitarian Summit, we and the international community have committed to improving needs assessments by increasing coordination and information sharing between donors and agencies.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 03/07/2017 12:18:52 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark

752408

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which UN agencies have operated impartially and neutrally in responding to the needs of religious minorities facing persecution and genocide in Northern Iraq and Syria; and on what evidence they base that assessment.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL854
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2017 answer text <p>The UK Government recognises the specific risks such as abduction and murder faced by religious minorities in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands of Daesh, and is deeply concerned by reports of human rights abuses motivated by religious or ethnic identity.</p><p>All people in need, from any community, irrespective of religious affiliation, are eligible for humanitarian assistance. DFID’s humanitarian implementing partners, including the UN, consider a wide range of issues when assessing an individual’s vulnerability such as the impact of physical or mental disabilities, income, age, missing family members, and whether individuals are already receiving assistance from other sources.</p><p>The organisations through which we channel our support do not identify or record beneficiaries by their religion. 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>We do not therefore hold information on how much UK-funded support is channelled to Yezidis and Christians either inside or outside camps. This year the UK will provide £40 million for urgent humanitarian assistance in Iraq and £4 million for the UN’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation (FFIS) to help rebuild communities affected by Daesh, including for minority communities in newly liberated areas in Iraq. The UK is also providing £500 million to support people, including refugees and internally displaced Syrians, affected by the Syria crisis in 2017. DFID does not fund the Bishops Emergency Committee.</p><p>The Nineveh Reconstruction Committee comprised of Church representatives has not contacted the UK Government or submitted a proposal for UK support for the construction of homes on the Nineveh Plains.</p><p>The UK is funding the UN’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation (FFIS), which is supporting 152 projects in mainly Christian communities in the Ninewa Plains and 70 projects in Yezidi communities in Sinjar, Rabia and Sinuni.</p><p>UN agencies are obliged to operate 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 minorities are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. DFID considers reports from a wide range of sources, including field visits by UK officials where these are possible, to assess the effectiveness of UN operations and their compliance with humanitarian principles. The UN carries out vital work in both Syria and Iraq, and UN staff frequently risk their lives to deliver assistance to people in need, including to areas where Daesh or the Assad regime seek to prevent aid being delivered.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL852 HL855 HL856 question first answered 25/07/2017 15:00:41 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

732097

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian impact on Gaza of the decision by the government of Israel to implement a request from the Palestinian Authority to reduce the flow of electricity supplies from Israel to Gaza.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL150
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2017 answer text <p>We are closely monitoring the current electricity situation in Gaza. This was initially triggered by a lack of fuel for the Gaza Power Plant, and exacerbated by a subsequent reduction in the supply of electricity from Israel, following a request from the Palestinian Authority. Gaza is considered a humanitarian priority for the UN and, though the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has not declared the current situation an ‘emergency'.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 29/06/2017 14:54:18 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark

1199208

	registered interest
	date	02/06/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Yemen: Humanitarian Aid
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
	tabling member printed	Lord Collins of Highbury
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4934
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>According to the UN, Yemen remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 80% of the entire population, over 24 million people, requiring some form of humanitarian assistance. More than 20 million people in Yemen do not have reliable access to food and almost 10 million people face extreme food shortages.</p><p>We are concerned that the outbreak of COVID-19 in Yemen is already exacerbating this devastating humanitarian situation.</p><p>DFID modelling estimates that over 100,000 Yemenis are now likely to have been infected by COVID-19. With only half of Yemen’s health facilities currently functional, we are extremely concerned by the capacity of the Yemen’s healthcare system to respond.</p><p>Ultimately, a political settlement is the only way to properly address the worsening humanitarian crisis. We therefore strongly encourage all parties to engage with Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 16/06/2020 16:30:42 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4222 label Biography information for Lord Collins of Highbury