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Written Question
Refugees: Education
Thursday 12th March 2020

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps he is taking to improve access to education for refugees in other countries; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Wendy Morton

DFID is a world leader in global education and the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 4. In particular, the UK prioritises education in conflict and crises for the world’s most vulnerable children, supporting quality education as well as the protection of children.

We are the largest donor to Education Cannot Wait, the global fund for education in emergencies, which the UK helped found. Our unprecedented £85 million contribution announced by the Prime Minister last year will support 600,000 children living in conflict areas and areas of protracted crises. We also run major country-level programmes supporting refugee education in countries including Bangladesh, Uganda, Lebanon, and Jordan.


Written Question
UNAIDS: Liability
Thursday 12th March 2020

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department plans to take as a result of the ruling by the International Labour Organisation that UNAids had failed in its duty of care towards a former staff member; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Wendy Morton

In 2019 following a review by the Independent Expert Panel, the governing body of UNAIDS, of which the UK is a member, approved a Management Action Plan (MAP) to tackle harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of power in UNAIDS. Full implementation of the MAP is a condition of DFID’s Performance Agreement with UNAIDS. 50% of DFID’s annual funding to UNAIDS depends on successful implementation of the Performance Agreement. The UK remains committed to driving up safeguarding standards across the aid sector. We have been clear that organisations have a duty of care to staff and must always protect people. The UK has a zero tolerance approach to harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of power in any organisation.


Written Question
Developing Countries: Poverty
Wednesday 4th March 2020

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to help to tackle global poverty through Fairtrade principles.

Answered by Nigel Adams

The UK government is committed to tackle global poverty through the Fairtrade principles of decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. These principles are included throughout our work and show that between 2015/16 and 2018/19 we have supported 3.9 million people to raise their incomes or obtain or maintain better jobs or livelihoods.

The UK government has also been a strong supporter of the Fairtrade Foundation. DFID provided £20 million to Fairtrade International between 2010 and 2016 to make the global Fairtrade system stronger, including activities to improve traceability and transparent reporting within Fairtrade tea, coffee and cocoa supply chains. DFID also supported Fairtrade through the £30.3 million Responsible Accountable and Transparent Enterprise programme, funding Fairtrade to help them develop Fairtrace, a supply chain mapping tool. The UK government continues to be a vocal champion of their work.


Written Question
Department for International Development: Jainism
Tuesday 8th October 2019

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

Britain’s Jain community makes a positive contribution to life in this country. This Government values its contribution immensely.

The Government is always keen to work with the Jain community on matters that are important to them, and we will continue to do so.


Written Question
Department for International Development: Credit Unions
Monday 5th August 2019

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2019 to Question 271330, for what reasons his Department does not offer a payroll deduction service to enable employees to join a credit union; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

DFID will assess the potential merits of enabling departmental staff to contribute to a credit union through payroll if at any time we receive a request from our employees to provide such a facility. DFID can find no record of a request being made.


Written Question
Department for International Development: Credit Unions
Monday 8th July 2019

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether his Department offers employees a payroll deduction service to enable staff to join a credit union; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Harriett Baldwin

There is no facility for making deposits to credit unions through payroll deductions.


Written Question
Department for International Development: Empty Property
Tuesday 18th June 2019

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will publish the name and location of the land and buildings owned by his Department that is (a) sitting empty and (b) in the process of being sold or disposed of; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

DFID has two HQ buildings in the UK, one at 22 Whitehall and the other at Abercrombie House, East Kilbride, Glasgow.

Both buildings are fully occupied and form part of the government estate. We have no properties that are (a) sitting empty or (b) in the process of being sold or disposed of.


Written Question
Department for International Development: Brexit
Monday 18th February 2019

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which EU agencies her Department plans to seek continued membership of after the UK has left the EU; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Harriett Baldwin

During the Implementation Period, the terms of the UK’s participation in EU agencies and bodies will be as set out in Article 128 of the Withdrawal Agreement.

Following our exit from the European Union, we are committed to maintaining a close and collaborative relationship with the EU. Our future partnership is a matter for the next phase of negotiations and we look forward to constructive discussions with the EU.


Written Question
Department for International Development: Brexit
Thursday 14th February 2019

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many officials from her Department have been seconded from their primary role to make preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Harriett Baldwin

DFID has deployed 26 employees on short-term loan to other government departments and fewer than 10 staff internally to make preparations for the UK leaving the EU, with or without a deal.


Written Question
Department for International Development: Trade Associations
Monday 4th February 2019

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which her Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Alistair Burt

DFID has no regulatory functions, and so none undertaken by trade associations.