Asked by: Lord Steel of Aikwood (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the announcement by the Palestinian Ministry of Health that because of fuel shortages affecting hospitals and clinics “urgent action is needed to prevent collapse of Gaza’s health system”, they are planning to offer any assistance.
Answered by Lord Bates
We remain concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and continue to monitor it closely, including the effect electricity shortages are having on the health sector. The UK will continue to urge all the parties to prioritise progress towards reaching a durable solution for Gaza and to take the necessary practical steps to improve conditions, including restoring the availability of electricity as a matter of urgency. The UK is supporting approximately 1 million Gazans by addressing critical water, sanitation and hygiene needs through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and is a long-term supporter of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), which provides basic services to 1.3 million people in Gaza, including basic health care.
Asked by: Lord Steel of Aikwood (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which countries they include in their Global Mine Action Programme, and whether they will consider adding Angola to that list.
Answered by Earl of Courtown - Opposition Deputy Chief Whip (Lords)
The Global Mine Action Programme which runs from 2014 to 2017 funds mine action projects in Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Further work in Burma, Somalia, South Sudan and Zimbabwe is currently being procured. The countries were selected following an inclusive consultation which took into account factors such as other donor funding and where the impact would be the greatest. In addition, DFID took the decision to shift the UK’s mine action funding to more fragile and conflict affected countries and where DFID could align mine action work with other DFID country programmes to maximise the impact. All funds have already been allocated under this programme therefore there is no scope for Angola to be included. This year DFID will reconsider the list of countries for future mine action programmes.
Asked by: Lord Steel of Aikwood (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consider investment by the Commonwealth Development Corporation in luxury construction projects is consistent with the Department for International Development's overall objectives in developing countries.
Answered by Baroness Northover
In 2013, CDC's 1,300 investee companies directly employed over a million people, and created more than 68,000 net new jobs.
Individual investments are fully decided by CDC and the Government has put in place strict rules which require commitments to deliver jobs, economic development and poverty alleviation in developing countries.