Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the budget of the Conflict Security and Stability Fund will come from her Department in each year up to 2020.
Answered by Justine Greening
The budget of the Conflict Security and Stability Fund is allocated by HMT.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations her Department has made to the OECD on changing the definition of Official Development Assistance.
Answered by Justine Greening
The UK has been at the forefront of work to reform the ODA system which was originally established over 40 years ago.
As a member of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), the UK engaged fully at official and ministerial level in the process to bring about an agreement for a definition change.
The changes were agreed at a High Level Meeting (18-19 February 2016) of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), which concluded a 4-year process to update the rules on ODA.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of the change in the OECD definition of foreign aid to include some military spending on the effectiveness of aid spend on reducing poverty.
Answered by Justine Greening
We welcome the outcome of the recent High Level Meeting of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), which agreed how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) rules should be updated to better tackle the pressing global development issues of the 21st century. The updates to the ODA rules both better recognise the detrimental impact that conflict, fragility and insecurity have on efforts to tackle poverty and reflect the importance of private sector investment for development.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will contribute emergency aid to Fiji and its surrounding islands following the recent cyclone.
Answered by Justine Greening
The UK is assisting Fiji in response to Tropical Cyclone Winston. The UK makes core contributions to the UN Agencies, CERF, ECHO and the Red Cross, all of whom may contribute to the response. We are also contributing technical support to strengthen UNICEF’s capacity and are ready to consider further requests for humanitarian experts should it be required. DFID has also offered to provide support to the UN Disaster & Coordination team and will remain in contact with Agencies in the region.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 15 February 2016 to Question 26161, how will the funds raised as result of the Supporting Syria Conference be used to create sustainable jobs in Levantine states with high youth unemployment.
Answered by Justine Greening
As set out in the Co-hosts’ Declaration from the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference (available at https://www.supportingsyria2016.com/media/) donor funding will support plans set out in detailed Statements of Intent by refugee-hosting governments aimed at improving the investment climate and creating jobs for host communities and refugees from Syria.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the contributions of the Minister of State for International Development at the International Development Committee, 27 January 2016, Question 28, and on 3 February 2016, Official Report, column 908, what the evidential basis is for the statements that export of arms by the UK to Saudi Arabia is not undermining her Department's humanitarian work in Yemen.
Answered by Justine Greening
The UK is the fourth largest donor to the crisis in Yemen, committing £85million this year. Funding those agencies and NGOs who have the best access and ability to deliver humanitarian assistance in Yemen means we have been able to provide support to over 1.3m Yemenis. In recent weeks, UK food aid has also been delivered to some of the hardest to reach areas of Taiz.
Nevertheless, the conflict in Yemen does make it difficult for agencies to operate and deliver humanitarian aid to all those who need it. That is why a lasting ceasefire is so important. We are doing all we can to support the UN to convene a further round of peace talks over the coming weeks and to renew the ceasefire.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations her Department has (a) made to and (b) received from Saferworld, Unicef, Save the Children and Oxfam on UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia in the last 12 months.
Answered by Justine Greening
DFID Yemen has longstanding and close working relationships with each of these four organisations, all of whom receive UK funding. Our dialogue covers all areas of relevant DFID policy, in particular our four priorities: supporting UN efforts to start political talks and return to an inclusive political process; increasing commercial imports of food, fuel and medical supplies; improving humanitarian access into and within Yemen; and strengthening the international community’s response to the crisis.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with (a) other government departments and (b) external organisations on the effects of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia on the delivery of development aid.
Answered by Justine Greening
DFID plays a key role in the UK government’s wider efforts to promote a more stable Yemen that is more able to address its humanitarian needs, working closely with other government departments to ensure that our combined diplomatic, humanitarian and military efforts make the maximum contribution to improving the situation in Yemen.
As part of this, we discuss all issues of relevance to the humanitarian response. We also meet regularly with external organisations to discuss the humanitarian situation and delivery of aid in Yemen.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing for (a) Syrian refugees and (b) Syrian refugee children in Europe; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Justine Greening
DFID is providing nearly £46 million to support refugees in Europe. Part of this funding will provide shelter, warm clothes, food, and medical supplies, including for 27,000 children and babies, many of whom have fled fighting in Syria.