Asked by: Adam Afriyie (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the availability of mechanisms to support charities and individuals seeking to transport donated goods to Ukraine.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Individuals wanting to support the aid effort in Ukraine are encouraged to do so through donations to trusted charities or existing humanitarian appeals such as the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and UN appeals, rather than donating goods. Cash can be transferred quickly to areas where it is needed and individuals and aid organisations can use it to buy the items they need the most. Unsolicited donations of goods, although well-meant, can obstruct supply chains and delay more urgent life-saving assistance from getting through. Reputable charities will be able to efficiently utilise existing supply chains and experienced aid workers to reach the people who are most in need. Advice on how individuals can support the Ukraine aid effort is available on: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukraine-what-you-can-do-to-help
Asked by: Adam Afriyie (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to strengthen relations with Commonwealth partners.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Strengthening our relationship with the Commonwealth and all its members is a priority for the Government, as part of our vision for a Global Britain. We look forward to hosting an ambitious and dynamic Commonwealth Summit in 2018 and are working with Commonwealth partners to deliver it.
Asked by: Adam Afriyie (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support democracy in and (b) strengthen UK relations with countries in Africa.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The UK’s links with Africa are profound. We spend almost £5 billion a year supporting Africa’s stability and prosperity. My Rt. Hon Friend the Foreign Secretary (Mr Johnson) last week visited The Gambia which recently saw its first democratic transfer of power, and in May my Rt. Hon Friend the Prime Minister (Mrs May) will host a major conference to agree a new international partnership for Somalia, demonstrating UK leadership and commitment to democracy and stability in Africa.
Asked by: Adam Afriyie (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the likely proportion of UK exports going to other EU member states in (a) 2020, (b) 2030 and (c) 2050.
Answered by Lord Swire
In 2014, exports to the EU accounted for 44% of UK exports (ONS). The Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), sources that we typically refer to, only forecast at the aggregate level. Therefore the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no estimates of the proportion of exports that the EU would account for in 2020, 2030 and 2050.
Asked by: Adam Afriyie (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the value of UK exports to (a) the EU, (b) the US, (c) China and (d) India in (i) 2000 and (ii) the most recent year available.
Answered by Lord Swire
With reference to the latest Office of National Statistics (ONS) economic accounts released on the 30 June 2015, the value of UK exports (goods and services) to the EU, US, China and India in 2000 and 2014, the latest year available, was as follows:
Exports of goods and services £billion | EU | USA | China | India | Total |
2000 | 146.5 | 48.8 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 269.3 |
2014 | 226.3 | 87.8 | 18.2 | 6.8 | 507.2 |
Growth (2000-14) | 54% | 80% | 836% | 156% | 88% |
The next ONS update is expected on the 30 September.