Baroness Jenkin of Kennington Portrait

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington

Conservative - Life peer

Became Member: 26th January 2011


Intergenerational Fairness and Provision Committee
17th May 2018 - 26th Mar 2019
Select Committee on Charities
25th May 2016 - 26th Mar 2017
Equality Act 2010 and Disability Committee
11th Jun 2015 - 15th Mar 2016
Refreshment Committee (Lords)
20th Jun 2012 - 30th Mar 2015


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Baroness Jenkin of Kennington has voted in 544 divisions, and 1 time against the majority of their Party.

16 Mar 2022 - Health and Care Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Jenkin of Kennington voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 15 Conservative Aye votes vs 19 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 75 Noes - 35
View All Baroness Jenkin of Kennington Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Baroness Barran (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
(7 debate interactions)
Lord Bethell (Conservative)
(7 debate interactions)
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Department Debates
Department of Health and Social Care
(19 debate contributions)
Department for Education
(8 debate contributions)
Home Office
(6 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Online Safety Act 2023
(1,460 words contributed)
Health and Care Act 2022
(866 words contributed)
Environment Act 2021
(797 words contributed)
Domestic Abuse Bill 2019-21
(402 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Baroness Jenkin of Kennington's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Baroness Jenkin of Kennington has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 42 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
1 Other Department Questions
16th Dec 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the projected budget for the Safe To Be Me: a Global Equality Conference to be held in London on 27–28 June 2022; and how many staff are expected to work on it.

The Government looks forward to hosting Safe to Be Me: A Global Equality Conference which will bring together government representatives, businesses, civil society and international parliamentarians on 29 June - 1 July 2022 to address important issues around the safety of LGBT+ people at home and abroad. The Conference will explore four key themes: making progress towards legislative reform that advances equality and legal protections for LGBT+ people globally, including decriminalisation; tackling violence and discrimination; improving access to public services; and working with businesses to strengthen the economic case for LGBT+ inclusion. This will be the UK’s first global LGBT+ Conference, and we will work closely with Lord Herbert of South Downs as Chair of the Conference, and in his role as Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on LGBT+ rights to ensure this event is ambitious.

The overall budget allocated to the delivery of the Conference is still being finalised. As of December 2021, there are 8.25 FTE staff within the international LGBT+ team in the Cabinet Office who are working on the Conference with oversight from a Deputy Director. Additionally, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office currently has 8.25 FTE staff within the international LGBT+ rights team whose work includes the Conference, as well as substantial oversight from the relevant Director General. We expect resourcing to increase in the run up to the Conference.

7th Nov 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the recent statement by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, that the Crown Prosecution Service will be reviewing its domestic abuse guidance following the publication of the Policy Exchange report The Crown Prosecution Service’s approach to transgenderism, published on 5 November, what are the timescales for this review; and how will it be reporting.

It is important that the public are clear on how the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will apply the law around domestic abuse so that they can be confident in its approach. As set out by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the CPS has therefore conducted a review of Annex D with a view to recontextualise its purpose and improve clarity.

The revised guidance will be published by the end of this year on the CPS website.

Lord Stewart of Dirleton
Advocate General for Scotland
11th Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued for decisions about prosecuting individuals in relation to female genital mutilation offences.

The CPS has legal guidance for all prosecutors dealing with potential cases involving female genital mutilation, which it keeps under review. This guidance has recently been revised to reflect the practical challenges in these cases and to provide clarification on piercing and cosmetic surgery. This was done in consultation with key stakeholders and published in autumn 2019.

12th Mar 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the outturn spending from the public purse on the Prime Ministerial residence in Downing Street in each financial year since 1997 for which records are held.

The Downing Street complex is a working building, as well as containing two Ministerial residences. As has always been the case, refurbishments and maintenance are made periodically. The Government is legally required to maintain the Downing Street buildings to the high standards appropriate to its Grade 1 and 2 listed status in consultation with Historic England. The listed status, as well as security and other relevant factors, significantly add to the cost of maintenance and repairs, compared to normal properties.

Across successive governments, Prime Ministers have received an annual allowance of up to £30,000 a year from the public purse to contribute towards the costs associated with maintaining and furnishing of the residency within the Downing Street estate.

Such works contribute to assets owned and held by the nation for use by Ministers, including for example for hosting official guests.

Figures for outturn spending from that allowance on the No 11 flat (the residence of the Prime Minister since 1997) are as follows.

To assist public scrutiny, they are presented in cash terms at the time of the payments, and in real terms (equivalent costs today).

Year

Cash outturn

Real terms*

1997-98

£16,471

£25,299

1998-99

£48,336

£73,040

1999-00

£32,189

£48,425

2000-01

£37,501

£55,406

2001-02

£32,945

£47,973

2002-03

£32,707

£46,587

2003-04

£21,094

£29,414

2004-05

£14,012

£18,996

2005-06

£35,293

£46,617

2006-07

£14,832

£19,050

2007-08

£28,150

£35,164

2008-09

£27,083

£32,939

2009-10

£29,389

£35,181

2010-11

£30,000

£35,267

2011-12

£13,335

£15,442

2012-13

£0

£0

2013-14

£20,490

£22,840

2014-15

£0

£0

2015-16

£29,106

£31,744

2016-17

£19,400

£20,647

2017-18

£0

£0

2018-19

£6,134

£6,270

2019-20

£0

£0


*Using HMT figures for GDP deflator for 2019-20.

Note: The annual allowance may be combined or spread to support works across financial years.

Figures exclude essential works to make good the premises prior to occupation.

No works took place in 2019-20 partly due to the general election and the covid pandemic.

Audited figures of spending from the allowance for the 2020-21 financial year are not yet available; works have taken place by long-standing Downing Street contractors on painting, sanding and floorboards. Any costs of wider refurbishment in this year have been met by the Prime Minister personally.

The Government has been considering the merits of whether works on parts or all of the Downing Street estate could be funded by a trust; this could mirror long-standing arrangements in place for Chequers (a private trust) or for Dorneywood (a charitable trust), reducing the need for subsidy from the public purse. Such matters are legally complex and policy development is ongoing. The Government engaged with the Leader of the Opposition’s Office on the proposals in July.

Matters concerning works on the Downing Street estate, including the residences, will be covered in the Cabinet Office’s forthcoming annual report and audited accounts.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
11th Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of instances of taking children into care under safeguarding law in relation to female genital mutilation (FGM) only on the basis of risk factors, such as the fact that the child’s mother had been subject to FGM, without direct evidence that the child is going to be subjected to FGM.

This information is not held centrally. Data on children being taken into care does not identify the cases where female genital mutilation (FGM) was the reason for the child going into care.

FGM is child abuse and it is illegal. The government is determined to eradicate FGM here and abroad and it cannot be condoned or ignored on the basis of it being a 'cultural tradition'. Services should safeguard children from this abuse as from any other form of abuse. The statement of the knowledge and skills required by child and family social workers includes that they should be able to take account of harmful practices in specific communities such as female genital mutilation.

11th Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of instances of taking children into care under safeguarding law in relation to female genital mutilation (FGM) (1) before, during and after a prosecution for FGM, irrespective of the outcome of the investigation and prosecution, and (2) in cases when family members are willing and able to take responsibility for them.

This information is not held centrally. Data on children being taken into care does not identify the cases where female genital mutilation (FGM) was the reason for the child going into care.

FGM is child abuse and it is illegal. The government is determined to eradicate FGM here and abroad and it cannot be condoned or ignored on the basis of it being a 'cultural tradition'. Services should safeguard children from this abuse as from any other form of abuse. The statement of the knowledge and skills required by child and family social workers includes that they should be able to take account of harmful practices in specific communities such as female genital mutilation.

3rd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether female genital mutilation education in schools is having a positive impact.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is child abuse and it is illegal. Services, including schools, should safeguard children from this abuse as from any other form of abuse.

Keeping children safe in education is statutory safeguarding guidance. All schools must have regard to it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The guidance sets out that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and that all school staff should receive appropriate safeguarding training at induction and that the training should be regularly updated. The guidance states that all staff should speak to the school’s designated safeguarding lead with regard to any concerns about FGM. It then goes on to explain the specific legal duty placed on teachers to report an act of FGM on a girl under the age of 18 to the police. The guidance is available here and attached: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2.

We want to support all young people to be happy, healthy and safe. We want to equip them for adult life and to make a positive contribution to society. From September 2020, we are making Relationships Education compulsory for all primary pupils, Relationships and Sex Education compulsory for all secondary pupils and Health Education compulsory for all pupils in state-funded schools.

The statutory guidance states that by the end of secondary education, pupils should have been taught about FGM. Schools should address the physical and emotional damage caused by FGM. They should also be taught where to find support and that it is a criminal offence to perform or assist in the performance of FGM or fail to protect a person for whom you are responsible from FGM. As well as addressing this in the context of the law, pupils may also need support to recognise when relationships (including family relationships) are unhealthy or abusive (including the unacceptability of neglect, emotional, sexual and physical abuse and violence, including honour-based violence and forced marriage) and strategies to manage this or access support for oneself or others at risk. All teaching for these subjects should be age as well as developmentally appropriate and sensitive to the needs of the pupil. This includes ensuring that no pupil feels stigmatised. Schools for example should work closely with the local community and key partners such as school nurses, as well as draw on local health data, when planning their teaching for any aspect of these subjects.

3rd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of female genital mutilation education in schools on any stigma experienced by children of African descent.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is child abuse and it is illegal. Services, including schools, should safeguard children from this abuse as from any other form of abuse.

Keeping children safe in education is statutory safeguarding guidance. All schools must have regard to it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The guidance sets out that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and that all school staff should receive appropriate safeguarding training at induction and that the training should be regularly updated. The guidance states that all staff should speak to the school’s designated safeguarding lead with regard to any concerns about FGM. It then goes on to explain the specific legal duty placed on teachers to report an act of FGM on a girl under the age of 18 to the police. The guidance is available here and attached: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2.

We want to support all young people to be happy, healthy and safe. We want to equip them for adult life and to make a positive contribution to society. From September 2020, we are making Relationships Education compulsory for all primary pupils, Relationships and Sex Education compulsory for all secondary pupils and Health Education compulsory for all pupils in state-funded schools.

The statutory guidance states that by the end of secondary education, pupils should have been taught about FGM. Schools should address the physical and emotional damage caused by FGM. They should also be taught where to find support and that it is a criminal offence to perform or assist in the performance of FGM or fail to protect a person for whom you are responsible from FGM. As well as addressing this in the context of the law, pupils may also need support to recognise when relationships (including family relationships) are unhealthy or abusive (including the unacceptability of neglect, emotional, sexual and physical abuse and violence, including honour-based violence and forced marriage) and strategies to manage this or access support for oneself or others at risk. All teaching for these subjects should be age as well as developmentally appropriate and sensitive to the needs of the pupil. This includes ensuring that no pupil feels stigmatised. Schools for example should work closely with the local community and key partners such as school nurses, as well as draw on local health data, when planning their teaching for any aspect of these subjects.

10th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average waiting time for a woman accessing long-acting reversible contraception.

The average waiting time for a woman accessing long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is not collected centrally. Data on restricted access to long-acting reversible contraception due to the COVID-19 pandemic in general practitioner surgeries and community sexual health clinics is also not currently available centrally.

The provision of LARC services is particularly challenging currently due to access not being possible remotely.

The Department is working with Public Health England and others to reduce waiting lists and backlogs that have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare have also published clinical advice to support ongoing provision of effective contraception which health professionals should work to.

10th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Women's Lives, Women's Rights: Strengthening Access to Contraception Beyond the Pandemic, published on 10 September, what plans they have to use primary care networks to provide opportunities to train the workforce in contraceptive care.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health’s report, Women's Lives, Women's Rights: Strengthening Access to Contraception Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic, has raised a number of important issues. The recommendations, including those relating to the workforce, will be considered as part of our upcoming work to develop the sexual and reproductive health strategy.

10th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) GP surgeries, and (2) community sexual health clinics, offering contraceptive services across England have restricted access to long-acting reversible contraception due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The average waiting time for a woman accessing long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is not collected centrally. Data on restricted access to long-acting reversible contraception due to the COVID-19 pandemic in general practitioner surgeries and community sexual health clinics is also not currently available centrally.

The provision of LARC services is particularly challenging currently due to access not being possible remotely.

The Department is working with Public Health England and others to reduce waiting lists and backlogs that have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare have also published clinical advice to support ongoing provision of effective contraception which health professionals should work to.

3rd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for expanding the provision of (1) sexual and reproductive health and rights, and (2) female genital mutilation support, services in the UK to support women and girls.

National Health Service referral pathways are in place locally to respond to the physical, mental and sexual health needs of women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) through maternity and specialist paediatric services. Non-pregnant women over 18 can access a new pilot of eight FGM support clinics launched in September 2019 which provide a range of services, including deinfibulation if required.

Commissioning of FGM services is informed by NHS Digital’s FGM enhanced dataset.

Local authorities in England are mandated to commission comprehensive open access sexual health services for people present in their area based on an assessment of local need.

3rd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) sexual and reproductive health and rights, and (2) female genital mutilation support, services exist for women with complications resulting from female genital mutilation in the UK.

National Health Service referral pathways are in place locally to respond to the physical, mental and sexual health needs of women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) through maternity and specialist paediatric services. Non-pregnant women over 18 can access a new pilot of eight FGM support clinics launched in September 2019 which provide a range of services, including deinfibulation if required.

Commissioning of FGM services is informed by NHS Digital’s FGM enhanced dataset.

Local authorities in England are mandated to commission comprehensive open access sexual health services for people present in their area based on an assessment of local need.

13th Nov 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 31 July (HL9405) and 8 November (HL10550), what were (1) the core, (2) the non-core, (3) any other, and (4) total, financial contributions to (a) the United Nations Population Fund, (b) the International Planned Parenthood Federation, (c) the World Health Organization, (d) UNICEF, (e) UNAIDS, (f) the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and (g) UN Women, in each financial year from 2014 to 2022.

Based on FCDO "Statistics on International Development: final UK aid spend 2022", the total amount of UK ODA financial contributions was:

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

1.a United Nations Population Fund – Core

20,000,000

20,000,000

20,000,000

20,000,000

20,000,000

20,000,000

20,000,000

8,000,000

8,000,000

2.a United Nations Population Fund – Non-core

203,290,000

94,690,000

87,470,000

120,470,000

148,880,000

189,930,000

69,660,000

57,320,000

97,510,000

4.a United Nations Population Fund – Total

223,290,000

114,690,000

107,470,000

140,470,000

168,880,000

209,930,000

89,660,000

65,320,000

105,510,000

2.b International Planned Parenthood Federation – Non-core

9,600,000

9,040,000

6,430,000

0

5,480,000

34,940,000

49,170,000

42,530,000

22,230,000

4.b International Planned Parenthood Federation - Total

9,600,000

9,040,000

6,430,000

0

5,480,000

34,940,000

49,170,000

42,530,000

22,230,000

1.c World Health Organization – Core

14,500,000

14,500,000

14,500,000

19,500,000

29,500,000

34,500,000

5,000,000

97,600,000

97,750,000

2.c World Health Organization – Non-core

84,510,000

102,150,000

88,670,000

111,400,000

142,640,000

150,180,000

215,900,000

35,530,000

43,650,000

3.c World Health Organization – Assessed contribution (DHSC)

11,500,000

11,830,000

12,000,000

12,190,000

12,790,000

13,000,000

13,260,000

12,490,000

13,400,000

4.c World Health Organization - Total

110,510,000

128,480,000

115,170,000

143,090,000

184,930,000

197,680,000

234,160,000

145,610,000

154,800,000

1.d UNICEF – Core

48,000,000

48,000,000

48,000,000

48,000,000

48,000,000

48,000,000

48,000,000

24,000,000

8,000,000

2.d UNICEF – Non-core

275,130,000

287,590,000

353,970,000

400,070,000

401,460,000

429,220,000

412,740,000

201,540,000

202,170,000

4.d UNICEF - Total

323,130,000

335,590,000

401,970,000

448,070,000

449,460,000

477,220,000

460,740,000

225,540,000

210,170,000

1.e UNAIDS – Core

15,000,000

15,000,000

15,000,000

15,000,000

15,000,000

15,000,000

15,000,000

2,500,000

8,000,000

4.e UNAIDS – Total

15,000,000

15,000,000

15,000,000

15,000,000

15,000,000

15,000,000

15,000,000

2,500,000

8,000,000

1.f Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – Core

285,000,000

100,000,000

152,940,000

317,060,000

360,000,000

370,000,000

476,000,000

380,000,000

434,000,000

4.f Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria - Total

285,000,000

100,000,000

152,940,000

317,060,000

360,000,000

370,000,000

476,000,000

380,000,000

434,000,000

1.g UN Women – Core

12,500,000

12,500,000

12,500,000

12,500,000

12,500,000

12,500,000

12,500,000

5,750,000

0

2.g UN Women – Non-core

490,000

4,190,000

8,310,000

6,850,000

4,900,000

13,400,000

6,910,000

3,430,000

4,700,000

4.g UN Women - Total

12,990,000

16,690,000

20,810,000

19,350,000

17,400,000

25,900,000

19,410,000

9,180,000

4,700,000

Figures have been rounded to the nearest ten thousand.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
16th Oct 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 31 July (HL9405), what was the total amount of (1) core, and (2) non-core, financial contributions to (a) the United Nations Population Fund, (b) the International Planned Parenthood Federation, (c) the World Health Organization, (d) UNICEF, (e) UNAIDS, (f) the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and (g) UN Women, in each financial year from 2014 to 2019 inclusive.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
17th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total amount of funding directly targeting reproductive health disbursed under codes (1) 13010, (2) 13021 or 13022, (3) 13030, and (4) 13081, of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee in the financial years (a) 2020, and (b) 2021.

The total amount of FCDO Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) funding directly targeting reproductive health disbursed under codes (1) 13010, (2) 13021 or 13022, (3) 13030, and (4) 13081 are noted in the table below. This is part of the' Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee (OECD DAC) in the financial years 2020, and 2021. Please note "13020" is the official OECD DAC code for both "13021" and "13022". These codes were defined and solely used by the former Department for International Development. This did not exist in the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office spend data and would not provide a complete picture for the FCDO.

UK ODA spend (in £)

2020

2021

13010

11m

7m

13020

109m

55m

13030

164m

129m

13081

11m

3m

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
17th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total amount of (1) core and (2) non-core financial contributions to (a) the United Nations Population Fund, (b) the International Planned Parenthood Federation, (c) the World Health Organization, (d) UNICEF, (e) UNAIDS, (f) the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and (g) UN Women, in the financial years (i) 2020, and (ii) 2021.

The core and non-core financial contributions for the calendar years 2020 and 2021 for the requested organisations are listed below. Details of the UK government's Official Development Assistance (ODA) is provided in Table A8 of the annual Statistics on International Development publication. Data for 2022 will be published in the Autumn.

Channel of delivery (£ thousands)

2020

2021

United Nations Population Fund

86,598,650

61,478,603

Non-core contribution (bilateral)

66,598,650

53,478,603

Core contribution

20,000,000

8,000,000

International Planned Parenthood Federation

49,170,738

42,550,197

Non-core contribution (bilateral)

49,170,738

42,550,197

Core contribution

0

0

World Health Organisation - assessed contributions

13,541,395

12,487,248

Non-core contribution (bilateral)

280,000

0

Core contribution

13,261,395

12,487,248

World Health Organisation - core voluntary contributions account

220,618,665

133,127,635

Non-core contribution (bilateral)

215,618,665

35,527,635

Core contribution

5,000,000

97,600,000

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

460,738,181

225,540,609

Non-core contribution (bilateral)

412,738,181

201,540,609

Core contribution

48,000,000

24,000,000

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

15,000,000

2,500,000

Core contribution

15,000,000

2,500,000

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

476,000,308

380,000,000

Non-core contribution (bilateral)

308

0

Core contribution

476,000,000

380,000,000

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

19,405,767

9,183,751

Non-core contribution (bilateral)

6,905,767

3,433,751

Core contribution

12,500,000

5,750,000

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
17th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of official development assistance was allocated to programmes targeted towards women and girls in fragile or conflict-affected states in (1) 2020, and (2) 2021.

In 2020 and 2021, the UK provided annual totals of £2.25 billion and £1.28 billion, respectively, of bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) to countries/regions classed as fragile or conflict affected (FCAS) where gender equality was identified by project teams either a significant or principal aim of the spend. This amount represented 23.6% and 17.9% of total UK bilateral ODA in these respective years. The list of FCAS are defined by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC).

The FCDO will continue to prioritise efforts to address the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls, as set out in the new Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan and the International Women and Girls Strategy, including to ensure a strong focus on gender equality in our programming.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
17th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of official development assistance was allocated to sexual and reproductive health and rights issues in (1) 2020, and (2) 2021.

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) funding disbursed through bilateral and multilateral funding and total funding for 2020 and 2021 are stated in the table below. This is based on OECD DAC credit report system data, SRHR spend methodology laid out in the 'Donors Delivering for SRHR' 2023 report and the latest OECD DAC exchange rates, and the data was adjusted for inflation using 2020 constant price. Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) can only be spent via multilateral or bilateral funding mechanisms.

Total SRHR

Core Multilateral SRHR

Bilateral SRHR

Yearly SRHR disbursement as % of total ODA

2020

£645.34m

£311.52m

£333.82m

4.89%

2021

£469.25m

£263.18m

£206.07m

4.54%

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
17th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total amount of funding directly targeting HIV and AIDS under codes (1) 13041, and (2) 13042, of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee in the financial years (a) 2020, and (b) 2021.

Details of UK Government Official Development Assistance spending broken down by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) codes are published in Statistics on International Development. Funding directly targeting HIV and AIDS under OECD code 13040 was £9 million for calendar year 2020 and £6 million for 2021. 13040 is the official OECD code for both 13041 and 13042 and no further breakdowns are available. These codes were defined and solely used by the former Department for International Development. They did not exist in the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office data on spending and would not provide a complete picture for the FCDO. The OECD code does not cover the UK's multilateral contributions and therefore does not present a full picture of UK support to combatting HIV and AIDS, for example the UK contributed £476 million in 2020 and £380 million in 2021 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, of which around 50 per cent went towards HIV and AIDS, and £15 million and £2.5 million towards UNAIDS.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
16th Dec 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the projected budget for the global summit to promote freedom of religion or belief in London on 5–6 July 2022; and how many staff are expected to work on it.

In July 2022, the UK will host an international Ministerial conference to promote freedom of religion or belief for all. The conference will demonstrate the UK's international leadership on supporting partner countries towards freedom and openness, underpinning the Network of Liberty the UK is committed to building around the world.

A conference budget will be finalised next year in line with all future programme budgets under the FCDO's business planning process for 2022 onwards. A conference team is being built and will be further boosted by additional surge staff in the summer.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
26th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the cross-governmental review of official development assistance will take place; how long it will last; which departments will be involved; when it will report; and whether the report will be made public.

To maximise the Government's strategic focus in the use of ODA next year, the Foreign Secretary will run a short cross-government process to review, appraise and finalise all of the UK's ODA allocations. This will involve all current ODA spending departments. It is the Government's intention to conclude this process as soon as possible and communicate the outcome to the departments concerned.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
26th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what fiscal conditions need to be met to allow the UK's official development assistance to return to 0.7 per cent of gross national income.

The Government intends to return to the 0.7% target when the fiscal situation allows. We cannot at this moment predict with certainty when the current fiscal circumstances will have sufficiently improved.

11th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there have been any child marriage convictions in the UK since the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 came into effect in February 2023.

The UK is a world leader in the fight to stamp out the practice of forced marriage, with our dedicated Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) leading efforts to combat it both at home and abroad.

The new legislation which came into force in February this year is intended to proactively close potential loopholes and make prosecution under the existing law easier by removing the need to prove the use of coercion, which may require evidence from the victim. The FMU has undertaken a range of activity to raise awareness of the extended offence.

Data on convictions for criminal offences is published by the Ministry of Justice. The latest publication is to December 2022, before the extended offence came into force.

Additionally, we protect both adults and children with our Forced Marriage Protection Orders (FMPOs) and have criminalised the breach of FMPOs once in place. The number of forced marriage protection orders made in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021 and (4) 2022 can be found in the table attached.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
11th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many child marriage protection orders were issued in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, and (4) 2022.

The UK is a world leader in the fight to stamp out the practice of forced marriage, with our dedicated Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) leading efforts to combat it both at home and abroad.

The new legislation which came into force in February this year is intended to proactively close potential loopholes and make prosecution under the existing law easier by removing the need to prove the use of coercion, which may require evidence from the victim. The FMU has undertaken a range of activity to raise awareness of the extended offence.

Data on convictions for criminal offences is published by the Ministry of Justice. The latest publication is to December 2022, before the extended offence came into force.

Additionally, we protect both adults and children with our Forced Marriage Protection Orders (FMPOs) and have criminalised the breach of FMPOs once in place. The number of forced marriage protection orders made in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021 and (4) 2022 can be found in the table attached.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
27th Jan 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps the Home Office is taking to close safeguarding loopholes where a name is changed in relation to a change of gender.

The Government is clear that we want people who are transgender to be able to live their lives as they wish. We believe that the process of legally changing one’s gender is a serious and legally meaningful undertaking which requires appropriate checks and a level of formality.

Home Office policy is to allow a customer to change their gender without requiring a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), in line with the Equality Act 2010, which does not allow discrimination between people who have changed their gender through medical intervention, for example via surgery, and those who have not.

Statements from medical consultants are accepted if they are registered on a medical website, can provide proof of their medical qualification and HM Passport examiners can verify; if not HM Passport Office examiners request another letter from another medical consultant if the original person cannot meet the necessary criteria.

The Government has begun an internal review into name change more generally. The review is looking at the formal and informal methods by which someone can change their name provide assurance that, where necessary, appropriate safeguards exist.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
2nd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there has been any increase in those who commit female genital mutilation being (1) prosecuted, and (2) found guilty, in the UK since the Serious Crime Act 2015 received Royal Assent.

FGM is a crime and it is child abuse. The Government will not tolerate a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering to women and girls. We significantly strengthened the law in 2015 in order to improve protection for victims and those at risk, and to break down the barriers to prosecution.

The first UK conviction for FGM took place on 1 February 2019 and the perpetrator was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The Home Office does not collate information on prosecutions centrally. Information on FGM prosecutions can be found in the Violence Against Women and Girls Reports, which are published annually by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
2nd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the outcome of criminalising female genital mutilation.

FGM is a crime and it is child abuse. The Government will not tolerate a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering to women and girls. We significantly strengthened the law in 2015 in order to improve protection for victims and those at risk, and to break down the barriers to prosecution.

The first UK conviction for FGM took place on 1 February 2019 and the perpetrator was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The Home Office does not collate information on prosecutions centrally. Information on FGM prosecutions can be found in the Violence Against Women and Girls Reports, which are published annually by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
2nd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many reports of cases of female genital mutilation, or suspected female genital mutilation, they have received under the mandatory reporting for under-18s duty in the Serious Crime Act 2015 since that Act received Royal Assent.

FGM is a crime and it is child abuse. The Government will not tolerate a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering to women and girls. We significantly strengthened the law in 2015 in order to improve protection for victims and those at risk, and to break down the barriers to prosecution.

The first UK conviction for FGM took place on 1 February 2019 and the perpetrator was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The Home Office does not collate information on prosecutions centrally. Information on FGM prosecutions can be found in the Violence Against Women and Girls Reports, which are published annually by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
2nd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many female genital mutilation protection orders were issued in (1) 2015, (2) 2016, (3) 2017, (4) 2018, and (5) 2019.

FGM is a crime and it is child abuse. The Government will not tolerate a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering to women and girls. We significantly strengthened the law in 2015 in order to improve protection for victims and those at risk, and to break down the barriers to prosecution.

The first UK conviction for FGM took place on 1 February 2019 and the perpetrator was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The Home Office does not collate information on prosecutions centrally. Information on FGM prosecutions can be found in the Violence Against Women and Girls Reports, which are published annually by the Crown Prosecution Service.

We have not previously collected data on the number of FGM cases received under the mandatory reporting duty. However, to improve understanding of the prevalence of so called ‘honour-based’ abuse, including FGM, the Government amended the police Annual Data Requirement (ADR) to require police forces, from April 2019, to record where a crime has been committed in the context of preserving the ‘honour’ of a family or community. This new collection is also capturing police recorded offences of FGM which were initially reported to the police under the mandatory reporting duty. Subject to data quality checks, we expect the first dataset under this new mandatory ADR collection to be published by autumn 2020.

The Government will continue to keep the changes made in the Serious Crime Act 2015 under review in order to ensure that they are working effectively.

The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly statistics on the number of FGM Protection Orders (FGMPOs) issued by the family courts in England and Wales, which can be found via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-court-statistics-quarterly.

The figures from 2015-2019 are set out in the table below. To note that FGMPOs were introduced in July 2015 and the figures for 2019 cover the period up to 30 September 2019. Figures for the final three months of 2019 will be published in due course.

2015

32

2016

64

2017

109

2018

143

2019

141

Total

489

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
4th Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to collect and publish data on the number of Parental Orders awarded each year through the Family Court for England and Wales in cases of surrogacy (1) where  the child was born through a commercial surrogacy arrangement abroad (2) where the child was born in the United Kingdom through a surrogacy arrangement in which the surrogate mother uses her own egg, and (3) where a child was born through surrogacy in this country using the egg of a third party egg donor, and not the egg of the commissioning female parent.

The number of these orders is not recorded centrally. The current recording system only collates data on the total number of parental orders made and there is no capability to break the data into further sub-sets of the different types of surrogacy arrangements. Such information can only be obtained through individual analysis of court files at disproportionate cost since they would require a manual search of court records. The Government has no plans to record this information centrally, doing so would require fundamental changes to existing IT systems.

You will be aware that in March 2023 the Law Commission of England and Wales published a joint report with the Scottish Law Commission; “Building families through surrogacy: a new law". The report puts forward recommendations for a robust new system to govern surrogacy in the UK, including recommendations specifically for the family court system.

The Government is currently considering all of the recommendations within the report and will publish a full response in due course. If and when further action is taken in response to the report, we will consider the collection of data in this area rather than risk making piecemeal changes.

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
4th Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government why they do not centrally hold data on the number of Parental Orders awarded each year through the Family Court for England and Wales in cases of surrogacy (1) where the child was born abroad through a commercial surrogacy arrangement, and (2) where the child was born in the United Kingdom through a surrogacy arrangement in which the mother uses her own egg.

The number of these orders is not recorded centrally. The current recording system only collates data on the total number of parental orders made and there is no capability to break the data into further sub-sets of the different types of surrogacy arrangements. Such information can only be obtained through individual analysis of court files at disproportionate cost since they would require a manual search of court records. The Government has no plans to record this information centrally, doing so would require fundamental changes to existing IT systems.

You will be aware that in March 2023 the Law Commission of England and Wales published a joint report with the Scottish Law Commission; “Building families through surrogacy: a new law". The report puts forward recommendations for a robust new system to govern surrogacy in the UK, including recommendations specifically for the family court system.

The Government is currently considering all of the recommendations within the report and will publish a full response in due course. If and when further action is taken in response to the report, we will consider the collection of data in this area rather than risk making piecemeal changes.

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
27th Nov 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total number of Parental Orders granted for surrogacy arrangements in England and Wales in (1) 2017, (2) 2018, (3) 2019, (4) 2020, (5) 2021, and (6) 2022.

The number of Parental Orders granted where children were conceived through surrogacy using the surrogate mother’s own egg is not recorded centrally.

The number of Parental Orders granted to couples bringing a child in to England and Wales where the child was conceived and carried through a commercial surrogacy arrangement abroad is not recorded centrally.

Such information could only be obtained through individual analysis of court files, at disproportionate cost.

The total number of Parental Orders granted for surrogacy arrangements in England and Wales between 2017 and 2022 can be found in the table below.

Table 1: Number of total Parental Orders made in Public and Private Law (Children Act) in the Family Courts, England and Wales

Year

Total

2017

332

2018

375

2019

445

2020

425

2021

437

2022

449

Source: Family Court Statistics Quarterly

Notes:

1) These orders relate to surrogacy and are made under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.

2) Please note the 2022 figure only includes Private Law as figures for Public Law are currently unavailable whilst Family Public Law undergoes reform.

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
27th Nov 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Parental Orders were granted to couples in England and Wales bringing a child in to this country conceived and carried through a commercial surrogacy arrangement abroad in (1) 2017, (2) 2018, (3) 2019, (4) 2020, (5) 2021, and (6) 2022.

The number of Parental Orders granted where children were conceived through surrogacy using the surrogate mother’s own egg is not recorded centrally.

The number of Parental Orders granted to couples bringing a child in to England and Wales where the child was conceived and carried through a commercial surrogacy arrangement abroad is not recorded centrally.

Such information could only be obtained through individual analysis of court files, at disproportionate cost.

The total number of Parental Orders granted for surrogacy arrangements in England and Wales between 2017 and 2022 can be found in the table below.

Table 1: Number of total Parental Orders made in Public and Private Law (Children Act) in the Family Courts, England and Wales

Year

Total

2017

332

2018

375

2019

445

2020

425

2021

437

2022

449

Source: Family Court Statistics Quarterly

Notes:

1) These orders relate to surrogacy and are made under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.

2) Please note the 2022 figure only includes Private Law as figures for Public Law are currently unavailable whilst Family Public Law undergoes reform.

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
27th Nov 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Parental Orders were granted through the Family Courts in England and Wales about the number of children conceived through surrogacy using the surrogate mother's own egg in (1) 2017, (2) 2018, (3) 2019, (4) 2020, (5) 2021, and (6) 2022.

The number of Parental Orders granted where children were conceived through surrogacy using the surrogate mother’s own egg is not recorded centrally.

The number of Parental Orders granted to couples bringing a child in to England and Wales where the child was conceived and carried through a commercial surrogacy arrangement abroad is not recorded centrally.

Such information could only be obtained through individual analysis of court files, at disproportionate cost.

The total number of Parental Orders granted for surrogacy arrangements in England and Wales between 2017 and 2022 can be found in the table below.

Table 1: Number of total Parental Orders made in Public and Private Law (Children Act) in the Family Courts, England and Wales

Year

Total

2017

332

2018

375

2019

445

2020

425

2021

437

2022

449

Source: Family Court Statistics Quarterly

Notes:

1) These orders relate to surrogacy and are made under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.

2) Please note the 2022 figure only includes Private Law as figures for Public Law are currently unavailable whilst Family Public Law undergoes reform.

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
16th Oct 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many child marriage convictions there were in the UK each year between 2018 and 2022 inclusive.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
11th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there have been any more female genital prosecutions in the UK since the first conviction in February 2019.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information on prosecutions and convictions for female genital mutilation (FGM) in the Outcomes by Offence data tool using the following HO code:

  • 00852 - Offences under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003

Since the first conviction in February 2019, there was one prosecution in 2022, and no convictions for the offence of FGM.

The data tool can be accessed via the following link: Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: December 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
11th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many female genital mutilation protection orders were issued in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, and (4) 2022.

Data on the number of female genital mutilation protection orders issued for the period 2019-2022 is routinely published and can be found in the Family Court Statistics Quarterly series available on gov.uk.

The data for the period requested is as follows:

2019

2020

2021

2022

199

136

54

71

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
2nd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have been (1) prosecuted for, and (2) found guilty of, female genital mutilation in the UK.

In the period between the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 coming into force and 31 December 2018, there were 6 prosecutions and 0 convictions for female genital mutilation offences.

The media, however, reported on one conviction early in 2019, but that covers a period for which statistics will be published in May 2020.