We welcome the recent All-Party Parliamentary Group report which identifies a range of concerns facing religious minorities in Pakistan. These are important issues and the UK is committed to promoting inclusion and tolerance through our development aid in Pakistan.<\/p>
<\/p>
We regularly review how our assistance benefits poor and marginalised people in Pakistan, including those from religious minorities. Baroness Sugg and Lord Ahmad will be meeting with the Chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Pakistani minorities<\/em> and International Freedom of Religion or Belief<\/em> to discuss the report\u2019s findings and consider what more can be done in the future.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4044", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Stephenson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pendle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Stephenson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-29T15:12:07.227Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Religious Freedom"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report of the Pakistani Minorities and Freedom of Religion or Belief All-Party Parliamentary Group entitled, Religious Minorities of Pakistan: Report of a Parliamentary Visit, published on 9 September 2019.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4457", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Marie Rimmer"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "St Helens South and Whiston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ms Marie Rimmer"}
], "uin" : "2737"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150854", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150854/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " UK aid prioritises support for the poorest and most excluded people and communities in Pakistan regardless of race, religion, social background or nationality. DFID Pakistan is currently developing new education programmes and as part of this process we will actively consider what we can do to benefit these groups.<\/p> <\/p> Previous and current DFID programmes in Pakistan have supported senior secondary and higher education scholarships for children from minority groups in Punjab. The Alif Ailaan education campaign had a focus on religious minorities in regions such as Tharpakar, Badin, Multan, and Rahimyar Khan where the local campaigners have advocated for religious minorities and highlighted their issues to authorities at the district and provincial levels.<\/p> <\/p> Nearly 6,000 people from religious minorities have received training through the Punjab Skills Development Fund\u2019s regular skill schemes, and the Fund is launching an exclusive skills scheme for religious minorities from January 2020. Under this scheme, a further 5,000 people from religious minorities (40% women) who are unemployed will be trained in a variety of trades that will lead to work. Lessons from this experience will help the Punjab Skills Development Fund further refine its interventions for minorities.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4044", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Stephenson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pendle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Stephenson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-29T15:13:07.71Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Education"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will allocate additional funding for programmes in Pakistan to (a) educate school children from minority backgrounds, (b) institute a scheme of specialist educational scholarships for minority students and (c) provide professional training to adults from religious minority groups.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4457", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Marie Rimmer"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "St Helens South and Whiston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ms Marie Rimmer"}
], "uin" : "2738"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150693", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150693/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " DFID already includes elements in our capacity building programmes which benefit religious minorities in Pakistan. Our new Aawaz II Accountability, Inclusion and Reducing Modern Slavery Programme builds on the Aawaz Voice and accountability programme. It will continue to work with communities to promote rights of children, women, youth and religious minorities, protect them from exploitation, and prevent discrimination.<\/p> <\/p> Through our Skills Development Programme, we fund the Punjab Skills Development Fund to provide technical and vocational skills training to the poor and vulnerable, including those from minority communities. An exclusive skills scheme has recently been launched by this Fund for religious minorities. Under this scheme, 5,000 people from religious minorities (40% women) who are unemployed will be trained in a variety of trades.<\/p> <\/p> More widely, through UK Aid Connect, DFID is funding a consortium led by the Institute of Development Studies to address challenges in building tolerance and freedom of religion and belief. In November 2018, Lord Ahmad and Lord Bates launched a £12 million UK Aid Connect programme to promote and defend freedom of religion or belief. This will make poverty reduction programmes more inclusive by highlighting and redressing religious inequalities, with a focus on highly volatile contexts.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-25T12:29:10.893Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Developing Countries: Religious Freedom"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will include modules on freedom of religion or belief in his Department's capacity building programmes in Pakistan and other countries with reported violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4457", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Marie Rimmer"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "St Helens South and Whiston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ms Marie Rimmer"}
], "uin" : "1914"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150694", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150694/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " DFID Pakistan is making efforts to include the category of religious minorities into the data that it collects on vulnerable populations by improving government data collection and protecting the rights of minorities. We currently collect data on minority status when there is a specific need for it, such as for our programmes which specifically aim at helping minority groups. We recently had some success in collecting more and better-quality data on people with disabilities in Pakistan. We learned from that and will build on it to focus our energy on collecting data from other vulnerable and minority groups.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-25T12:30:57.93Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Minority Groups"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will include the category of religious minorities to the data that his Department collects on vulnerable populations in Pakistan.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4457", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Marie Rimmer"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "St Helens South and Whiston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ms Marie Rimmer"}
], "uin" : "1915"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150695", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150695/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Nearly 6,000 people from religious minorities have received training through the Punjab Skills Development Fund\u2019s regular skill schemes. This Fund is launching an exclusive skills scheme for religious minorities from January 2020. Under this scheme, a further 5,000 people from religious minorities (40% women) who are unemployed will be trained in a variety of trades that will lead to work. Lessons from this experience will help the Fund further refine its interventions for minorities.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-29T17:24:12.863Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Training"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if his Department will provide specific training courses for religious minority candidates under the Punjab Skills Development Fund in coordination with the Punjab Government.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4457", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Marie Rimmer"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "St Helens South and Whiston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ms Marie Rimmer"}
], "uin" : "1916"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150696", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150696/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Inclusion and respect for minority communities forms an integral part of our provincial and national education programmes in Pakistan. Through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Education Support Programme and the Punjab Education Support Programme II, DFID has also provided technical assistance to provincial governments to revise the school curriculum and remove discriminatory content from textbooks. Other work to promote tolerance and interfaith harmony includes: training nearly 100,000 teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab in equity and inclusion; funding the Alif Ailaan education campaign which focusses on religious minorities; and engaging with education civil society organisations to champion issues of inclusion and raise these with government.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-29T17:24:27.017Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Textbooks"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps he is taking to (a) ensure that schools in Pakistan supported by his Department do not use textbooks with content that stigmatises religious minorities and (b) encourage provincial governments in Pakistan to work with religious minority groups to remove that content.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4457", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Marie Rimmer"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "St Helens South and Whiston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ms Marie Rimmer"}
], "uin" : "1917"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/999709", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/999709/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 41,818 trainees are currently enrolled on Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) training courses. The number of trainees who have disclosed their status as non-Muslim is 647 (1.55%). PSDF does not provide nursing courses.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-06T15:32:36.45Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Training"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of people enrolled on training courses provided by the Punjab skills development fund are (a) from minority communities and (b) on nursing courses.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4457", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Marie Rimmer"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "St Helens South and Whiston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ms Marie Rimmer"}
], "uin" : "187066"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984632", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984632/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " DFID holds all partners to the same high safeguarding standards. Private sector organisations must follow our Supply Partner Code of Conduct. It sets high, legally enforceable standards for ethical behaviour and compliance with human rights, including specific clauses on sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4017", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Penny Mordaunt"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Penny Mordaunt"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-10T13:31:15.533Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Overseas Aid: Private Sector"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "What steps she is taking to ensure that private contractors in receipt of aid spending are held to the same safeguarding standards as charity and non-governmental organisation contractors.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4457", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Marie Rimmer"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "St Helens South and Whiston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ms Marie Rimmer"}
], "uin" : "906957"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/847197", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/847197/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " UK officials are working closely with the UN Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA), the United States and other donors on how best to ensure continuity of essential services to Palestinian refugees at this time, in line with humanitarian principles. The UK remains firmly committed to supporting UNRWA, and has so far provided around £50 million in 2017/18 based on the Agency meeting rigorous performance indicators. The UK is closely monitoring UNRWA\u2019s ability to deliver services in all fields of operation and is supporting UNRWA\u2019s fundraising efforts. I recently met with the Commissioner General of UNRWA to understand how donors can help. I discussed the importance of UNRWA\u2019s services to the region with a senior US official last week.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-02-27T16:28:01.977Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-02-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "USA: UNRWA"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government plans to increase its contribution to UNWRA funding as a result of the decision by the US Administration to reduce its contribution to that body; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4457", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Marie Rimmer"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "St Helens South and Whiston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ms Marie Rimmer"}
], "uin" : "129371"}
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}