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1126690

registered interest
date	14/05/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	World Health Organization: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they contribute financially, annually, to the World Health Organisation.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL15707
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The World Health Organisation (WHO) is critical to UK international development and global health security objectives. The UK is WHO’s third largest funder and a key advocate for continued WHO reform and impact at country level. The UK’s annual contribution to the World Health Organisation averages at £100 million.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 29/05/2019 15:38:00 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1013188

registered interest
date	23/11/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Global Compact for Migration
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 UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration; and whether they intend to sign the Compact.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL11748
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2018 answer text <p>Well-managed migration is in everyone’s interests. But uncontrolled migration erodes public confidence, damages economies, and places those on the move in situations of intense vulnerability. The UK is taking significant steps to tackle uncontrolled migration by:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Addressing the root causes of migration, through our targeted assistance for livelihoods, healthcare, education and economic development</li><li>Tackling modern slavery and organised immigration crime</li><li>Supporting enhanced border management</li><li>Providing critical humanitarian support and protection for vulnerable migrants, as well as offering voluntary return and vital reintegration support to those wishing to return home</li><li>Supporting refugees to stay in a first safe country through our humanitarian and development work in Africa, the Middle East and Asia</li></ul><p> </p><p>The Global Compact for Migration is one way in which we are working to ensure that UK migration priorities are embedded throughout the international system. It is a step forward in international co-operation to tackle irregular migration and helpful framework to help us deliver our commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.</p><p> </p><p>The Compact is not legally binding. Instead, it creates a framework that will allow countries to work together to make migration more beneficial for everyone. It protects every State’s right to determine its own immigration policies, including in areas such as asylum, border controls and returns of illegal migrants.</p><p> </p><p>We have worked closely with our EU colleagues throughout the process and will continue to do so as we approach the intergovernmental launch event in Marrakesh. My colleague the Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP recently spoke to the APPGs on Migration and Refugees about the Migration Compact.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 07/12/2018 14:44:40 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

832863

registered interest
date	29/01/2018
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Pakistan: Overseas Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, in determining the amount of aid for Pakistan in 2018–19 of £345 million, what consideration, if any, was given to (1) the reported assistance given to the Afghan Taliban by that country's Inter-Services Intelligence Agency, (2) the amount spent on nuclear weapons per annum by that country, (3) the amount per annum spent on defence, (4) Pakistan's rating by Transparency International, (5) the use of the death penalty there, and the number of prisoners awaiting execution, (6) the number of juveniles sentenced to death, (7) recent death sentences for blasphemy, (8) the practice and legal status of female genital mutilation, (9) the intimidation of journalists who criticise Pakistan's military, and (10) the 2016 Amnesty International report listing Pakistan in the top ten worst countries in the world for human rights abuses.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL5198
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2018 answer text <p>Helping to ensure a prosperous and stable Pakistan is critical for the future of millions of poor Pakistanis, and the stability and security of both the region and the UK. The UK is helping Pakistan improve its basic services, reduce poverty, and promote equality. Our funding helps strengthen institutions, develop markets and build systems for a self-sufficient and better governed country. DFID’s work supports wider UK objectives by helping to reduce threats to the UK which may emanate from Pakistan linked to extremism, illegal migration and foreign national offenders in the UK of Pakistan origin.</p><p> </p><p>Our aid relationship with any government is based on an assessment of commitment to our Partnership Principles, including to promote and safeguard human rights. We no longer provide General Budget Support to Pakistan. Instead, where it is effective and efficient to work through government systems, we direct our support towards specific areas such as health and education sectors. UK aid programmes which provide funding through the Government only proceed when the Government of Pakistan provides most of the funds itself, commits to increase its own spending, and delivers results; and when we know UK aid is protected from corruption. DFID and the FCO continue to raise the issue of human rights of minorities at the highest levels of Government. No UK aid funds nuclear programmes in Pakistan, either directly or indirectly. It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on matters relating to intelligence or national security and we are not aware of any reliable data that is available on Pakistan’s nuclear programme expenditure.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 06/02/2018 17:22:01 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

776754

registered interest
date	24/10/2017
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Burma: Rohingya
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money they have committed to date to assist with the Rohingya refugee crisis.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2418
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2017 answer text <p>The UK is the largest bilateral donor to the Rohingya refugee crisis. In addition to the £35m the UK had committed since the start of this crisis, on October 23<sup>rd</sup> the UK announced a further £12m of support, bringing the UK total to £47m. This funding is already delivering important relief on the ground, including providing food to 174,000 people, safe water and sanitation for more than 138,000 people and emergency shelter for over 130,000 people. In addition, emergency nutrition support will reach more than 60,000 children under five and 21,000 pregnant and lactating women, counselling and psychological support will reach over 10,000 women suffering from the trauma of war and over 2,000 survivors of sexual violence, and provide medical assistance for over 50,000 pregnant women.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 31/10/2017 17:15:09 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

767890

registered interest
date	10/10/2017
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Development Aid
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 25 September (HL 1590), whether the OECD's Development Assistance Committee has legally binding rules or only recommendations which no country is obliged to follow.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL1809
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2017 answer text <p>The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee, of which the UK is a member, sets the rules that determine what aid counts as Official Development Assistance (ODA). Only spending that complies with these rules is recognised as counting towards the United Nations’ 0.7% of gross national income target for ODA to which the UK is committed. That commitment is enshrined in the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 17/10/2017 13:53:48 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

760477

registered interest
date	14/09/2017
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Caribbean: Disaster Relief
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any restrictions in (1) UK law, or (2) international law, which would prevent or limit the use of funds from the budget of the Department for International Development for the reconstruction of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL1590
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2017 answer text <p>There are no restrictions in UK or international law on the support for reconstruction that we can provide to the overseas territories.</p><p>There are, however, rules on what is counted as Official Development Assistance (ODA), which are set by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC). These rules include a list of the developing countries and territories to which support given by donors can be classed as ODA. In the case of Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, their Gross National Income per capita exceeds the limit for them to be considered developing countries. The Secretary of State wrote to the Chair of the DAC to raise the issue of whether these rules should be adjusted to reflect the scale of the impact in this case.</p><p>This does not impact our response in the region – the government has committed £57m to date for immediate relief and we will match every pound donated to the Red Cross [up to £3m].</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 25/09/2017 10:07:19 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

672262

registered interest
date	12/01/2017
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Overseas Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the findings by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact in their report <i>The effects of DfID's cash transfer programmes on poverty and vulnerability</i>, published on 12 January, that Department for International Development officials tolerate weaknesses in aid programmes and choose not to challenge partner countries on strongly held positions.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL4600
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2017 answer text <p>The UK has a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption and has robust systems in place to protect UK aid investments. DFID works alongside partner governments to support those most in need, while raising important issues at every level of government where necessary. As ICAI stated, this approach works: “During our visit to Rwanda, we found evidence that DFID’s policy advocacy had significantly influenced counterpart attitudes and beliefs. For example, it is now settled that people living with disabilities are an important target group; the assistance now focuses on how best to identify and target them.”</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 23/01/2017 17:11:11 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

672263

registered interest
date	12/01/2017
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Rwanda: Overseas Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take in relation to the provision of aid to Rwanda, in the light of the findings by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact in their report <i>The effects of DfID's cash transfer programmes on poverty and vulnerability</i>, published on 12 January, that the selection process for cash handouts "correlates only weakly with poverty levels".
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL4601
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2017 answer text <p>60% of Rwandans live below the international poverty line (World Bank, $1.90 per day). DFID supports the Rwandan Government’s Vision Umurenge Programme which targets the extreme poor. Whilst the ICAI report notes that the VUP selection process “correlates only weakly with poverty levels”, according to recent data, 92% of those targeted live below the international poverty line. With DFID's support the Rwandan government has developed new targeting guidelines and a new management information system to improve this.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 23/01/2017 17:05:20 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

672264

registered interest
date	12/01/2017
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Zimbabwe: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are providing money through child-focused programmes in Zimbabwe to families who do not have any children; and if so, why.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL4602
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2017 answer text <p>DFID is one of a number of donors who funds the Harmonised Social Cash Transfer programme, referred to in the recent ICAI report.</p><p>Of the targeted households under the scheme 83% have children to care for, but those headed by the elderly, the chronically ill or people living with disabilities are also eligible even if they are not caring for children.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 23/01/2017 17:06:10 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

672265

registered interest
date	12/01/2017
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Overseas Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which management companies or consultancies organising or delivering aid former civil servants who were employed by the Department for International Development have a directorial or senior management role.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL4603
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2017 answer text <p>Information on all ministerial and senior officials who applied to take up appointments after leaving DFID service and approved by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) is published annually. The latest report is attached.</p><p>Information about outside appointments or employment taken up by former members of DFID, and approved at Departmental level within the scope of the Business Appointment Rules, is published as part of DFID’s transparency commitment. This information is available on GOV.UK website. DFID’s Business Appointment Rules – January to June 2016 attached.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates attachment 1 file name ACOBA_2015-16_Annual_Report_final.pdf title ACOBA Report 2 file name DFID Business Appointment Rules January to June 2016.pdf title DFID Business Appointment Rules - January to 2016 question first answered 23/01/2017 17:13:41 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra