Asked by: Lord Bishop of Leeds (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the letter published in the Financial Times on 14 April, and signed by 18 African and European leaders, which called for an immediate moratorium on all bilateral and multilateral debt payments, both public and private, until the COVID-19 pandemic has passed; and what plans they have, if any, to support that request.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK Government is deeply concerned about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public finances of low-income developing countries. During 2020, developing countries were projected to spend around $36 billion on servicing external debts to bilateral, multilateral and private sector creditors. In this time of crisis, it is vital that creditors work together to ensure that servicing debts does not prevent countries protecting their citizens and economies.
The UK, alongside the G20 and the Paris Club of official creditors, has committed to a temporary suspension of debt service repayments from the poorest countries. This official sector effort could provide up to $12 billion of additional fiscal space for eligible countries until the end of the year, allowing their governments to redirect finances towards mitigating the health and economic impacts of COVID-19. This initiative provides time to assess what further assistance these countries may need.
The G20 has called for the private sector creditors to participate on comparable terms and has asked the Multilateral Development Banks to explore whether there are options for them to participate, while maintaining their current credit ratings and low cost of funding which are important for supporting their client countries.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Leeds (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other G20 leaders to extend the agreement reached on 15 April, to suspend debt payments owed by 77 of the world’s poorest countries, to include the (1) the World Bank, and (2) the African Development Bank.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK Government is deeply concerned about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public finances of low-income developing countries. The UK, alongside the G20 and the Paris Club of official creditors, has committed to a temporary suspension of debt service repayments from the poorest countries.
The UK, together with other G20 Finance Ministers, has asked the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to explore options for them to participate in the G20 initiative, while maintaining their current credit ratings and low cost of funding which are important for supporting their client countries. The MDBs are currently conducting analysis and will report back to the G20.
During 2020, developing countries were projected to spend around $13 billion on servicing external debts to multilateral creditors. In response to COVID-19, the international financial institutions (including the World Bank and African Development Bank) have made over $300 billion of finance available for developing countries over the coming 15 months.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Leeds (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement the recommendations set out in the Wilton Park Statement on assisting religious minorities in humanitarian crises, published on 9 May.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
DFID has reviewed and assessed the Wilton Park Statement on assisting religious minorities in humanitarian crises. Policy Teams will investigate how to incorporate the recommendations into their policy plans.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Leeds (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Wilton Park Statement on assisting religious minorities in humanitarian crises, published on 9 May.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
DFID has reviewed and assessed the Wilton Park Statement on assisting religious minorities in humanitarian crises. The Wilton Park Conference brought together and found common ground between an unprecedented gathering of human rights activists, humanitarian organisations, representatives of governments and international organisations and faith groups. The statement illustrates how the different approaches can be complimentary. Whilst clearly recognising that humanitarian responses have to be guided by the principles of impartiality and assistance provided on the basis of need alone, the statement provides guidance to assist humanitarian practitioners determine whether vulnerable groups and religious minorities are most at risk and how to encourage and facilitate the participation and partnership of local and national religious communities in determining specific needs of vulnerable religious minority individuals and communities.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Leeds (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian impact of sanctions on the people of Sudan.
Answered by Lord Bates
HMG, through DFID, follows the humanitarian situation closely and provides over 550 thousand vulnerable people in Sudan with humanitarian assistance each year. DFID supports Sudan’s most vulnerable people to meet their basic needs, sustain their livelihoods, and build their resilience to crises.
We welcome the temporary suspension of US bilateral economic sanctions on Sudan, which if lifted permanently will support progress towards inclusive economic development for Sudan’s people. We encourage the Government of Sudan to continue to make the required progress to enable permanent lifting of US sanctions. The UK continues to apply the United Nations’ arms embargo and targeted sanctions in Darfur, as well as the European Union arms embargo on Sudan.