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Written Question
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Overseas Aid
Thursday 9th July 2020

Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the current level of UK aid spending on gender equality within humanitarian and development programming will be protected when her Department is merged with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The UK is committed to spending 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) on development, which is enshrined in law. This means the aid budget increases when the UK economy grows and decreases if the economy shrinks. The economy is expected to shrink this year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and all government departments are working through how their plans need to change in the light of this. No decision has been taken, but we are considering the full range of our work. Given the expected fall in GNI this year, aid spending is under review across all departments. Any decisions on spending aid will be taken by the ministerial team in the new department, overseen by the Foreign Secretary and drawing on the expertise of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff.

The UK International Development (Gender Equality) Act makes consideration of gender equality in all UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) a legal requirement. Advancing gender equality and women’s rights will remain a priority for this government.


Written Question
Developing Countries: Overseas Aid
Thursday 9th July 2020

Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of UK aid will support the world’s least developed countries after her Department merges with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK meets the UN Sustainable Development Goal target of spending 0.15% to 0.20% of Gross National Income (GNI) on Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). In 2018 (the latest year for which we have published National Statistics), LDCs received approximately £4.7 billion (32%) of UK ODA. This is equivalent to 0.22% of the UK’s GNI. The current Spending Period ends in March 2021, and therefore no budgets are allocated to any department beyond this year.


Written Question
Developing Countries: Coronavirus
Monday 15th June 2020

Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with her counterparts overseas on raising financial support for developing nations to tackle the covid-19 pandemic.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The Coronavirus outbreak is the biggest global crisis in a generation. This calls for decisive and co-ordinated action to respond to the global health, economic and humanitarian implications, especially to support the poorest and most vulnerable.

The UK is playing a leading role in galvanising international action and unlocking timely financial support – both direct UK support and through the UN and the wider multilateral system. The UK is also using its voice and influence in key international forums such as the G7 and G20 - for example, helping secure agreement in the G20 to suspend all debt repayments for the poorest and most vulnerable countries until the end of 2020. The Secretary of State and I also work closely with our counterparts in other major donor countries including the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Australia to encourage funds to be made available as quickly as possible to where the risks and needs are greatest.

The UK is bringing others with us to raise much-needed financial support. For example, at the UK-hosted Global Vaccine Summit on 4 June world leaders, foundations, the private sector and civil society pledged $8.8 billion to help Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to address the short and long-term challenges posed by the pandemic.


Written Question
Developing Countries: Coronavirus
Tuesday 2nd June 2020

Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that developing countries have access to covid-19 testing.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The UK is at the forefront of global research focussed on the development of potential COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatments, and is providing aid to organisations central to the global response. This includes DFID’s £23 million investment in the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, a global non-profit organisation driving innovation in developing and delivering tests to combat major diseases affecting the world’s poorest populations, including for COVID-19. The UK’s £75 million investment in the World Health Organization is supporting the organisation’s key role in providing technical support to countries to establish COVID-19 testing strategies and capacity.


Written Question
Bangladesh: Islamic Relief
Friday 20th October 2017

Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make representations to the Bangladeshi Government on ensuring that Islamic Relief is able to operate in that country; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Alistair Burt

The UK is at the forefront of responding to the plight of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. As a world leader in humanitarian crises, this is what we do best. We have repeatedly called for better access for NGOs working in Rohingya-populated areas to be allowed access based on merit, and will continue to do so. We are pressing for a clearer, more transparent process for registering NGOs working with the Rohingya in Bangladesh.