Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to support (a) Nigeria and (b) Syria in response to the water crises in those countries.
Answered by Alistair Burt
In Nigeria, UK aid has provided around 7 million people with a safe and reliable water supply between 2010-2017.
In Syria, UK aid has funded the UN and NGOs to support water, hygiene and sanitation needs throughout Syria, and will continue to do so. Between January and September 2017, 550,000 people gained access to clean drinking water due to UK support.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to provide medical support for people affected by recent military action between Turkish Government forces and Kurds.
Answered by Alistair Burt
UK-funded partners have been delivering humanitarian assistance in Afrin including health and protection services. Activities inside Afrin are currently suspended due to the recent military action. Partners are pre-positioning supplies to help meet the needs of those fleeing the area. We call on all parties to facilitate access for life-saving humanitarian aid, and to allow freedom of movement for those caught up in the violence, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The UK will continue to engage with the Government of Turkey on issues relating to the current operation. The Prime Minister spoke to President Erdogan on 26 January where she urged Turkey to avoid any escalation in violence and to protect civilians, while recognising its legitimate interest in the security of its borders.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to tackle leprosy in (a) Africa and (b) Bangladesh.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID supports the Livelihoods and Food Security in Leprosy-Affected Communities programme in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique, through the Leprosy Mission England and Wales. The programme seeks to improve the livelihoods and food security of thousands of people living below the poverty line, with a particular focus on people affected by leprosy, other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and disabilities. DFID also supports Reaching the Unreached: A participatory approach empowering women to prevent disability as a result of leprosy and lymphatic filariasis programme in rural Bangladesh, through LEPRA.
At a global level DFID funds the WHO to achieve progress towards their WHO 2020 targets on leprosy. DFID is also helping countries so that they are better able to detect and treat all causes of ill health, including leprosy.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what (a) due diligence and (b) evaluation her Department conducts of its partners' commitment to (i) the Partnership Principles and (ii) promoting freedom of religion or belief when allocating her Department's funding to governments.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
In determining UKAid funding to governments DFID assesses their commitment to each of four Partnership Principles. One of the Principles is commitment to human rights, which includes freedom of religion or belief. Evidence of lack of commitment to the Principles would influence choices on the level and the manner of aid provision, for example by providing aid through civil society organisations rather than through government bodies.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department has provided to the South Sudan Council of Churches in its reconciliation work in that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I provided on 16 January to Question 121852.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development , what steps the Government is taking to assist (a) Jordan, (b) Lebanon and (c) Turkey with Syrian refugees.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Since the start of the Syria crisis, DFID has committed £2.46 billion, our largest ever response to a single humanitarian crisis. We have committed £429m to support activities in Jordan, through humanitarian, education and economic development programming. This funding has enabled over 126,000 Syrian refugees to access state education; allowed refugees to work legally, with over 70,000 work permits issued; and improved cross-community relations and much need infrastructure for Syrians and Jordanians living side by side in host communities. DFID has also allocated £543 million in humanitarian and development funding to Lebanon, providing nearly half a million cash grants and vouchers to help vulnerable people meet their basic needs, expanding the Lebanese education system to reach over 300,000 Syrian children, and improving infrastructure and services in 51 of the most conflict-prone municipalities. In 2016, DFID committed €328 million to the €3 billion EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRIT). The UK is also contributing to the FRIT via our EU budget payments. The FRIT is supporting refugees and host communities by building schools, and providing health services and social welfare payments for the most vulnerable.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent estimate she has made of the proportion of the Palestinian Authority's foreign aid receipts which was spent on payments to convicted terrorists in Israeli prisons in the last 12 months.
Answered by Alistair Burt
In August 2017, the International Monetary Fund estimated that external financial support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) in 2017 will total $666 million USD (approx. £500 million GBP). Many donors, including the UK and European Union, restrict their support to the PA for specific purposes and projects, and ensure that none of their aid is used for payments to convicted terrorists in Israeli prisons. No estimates have been made of the proportion of the PA’s external financial support which was spent on payments to convicted terrorists in Israeli prisons in the last 12 months.
No UK aid is used for payments to Palestinian prisoners or their families. UK financial assistance to the PA is only used to help to pay the salaries of health and education public servants in the West Bank. Only named public servants from a pre-approved EU list are eligible and a robust verification system validates that funds are used for the intended purposes. The UK government strongly condemns all forms of violence including incitement to violence.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what mechanisms her Department uses to ensure that UK aid does not fund radicalisation in the Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID complies with both domestic and international counter terrorism financing law, and formal agreements ensure all partners adhere to the Terrorism Act (2000). UK aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is provided directly through an EU mechanism, contributing to the salaries of vetted public servants in the health and education sectors. Only named public servants from a pre-approved EU list are eligible, and the vetting process includes screening against international and ad hoc sanctions lists designed to prevent terrorism financing. UK support to the PA is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding, which includes the PA’s commitment to uphold the principle of non-violence. UK funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (who have a neutrality policy) and other implementation partners is monitored through regular field visits, programme reviews, and independent audits.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary for International Development, what support her Department has provided to Iran and Iraq since the recent earthquake on the border of Iran and Iraq.
Answered by Alistair Burt
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided on 27 November to Question number 114567
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness of using UK aid to Pakistan as leverage with which to engage the Government of Pakistan on its relations with NGOs.
Answered by Alistair Burt
International and national NGOs are important development partners, and the UK is concerned about some of the restrictions they face. DFID and FCO officials regularly press the Government of Pakistan to ensure registration and regulation is implemented appropriately, and allow NGOs to continue their important work. Our aid relationship with the Government of Pakistan is based on assessment against our Partnership Principles and funding is subject to programme performance and progress by government on key policy reforms.