Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will introduce mandatory training for her Department’s staff in Nigeria on (a) patterns of discrimination and (b) conflict on grounds of religious characteristics and (c) how religion and religious actors interact with the societal context.
Answered by James Duddridge
Our staff are encouraged to?develop?an understanding of religion and its role within society,?including in conflict situations and in countries like Nigeria where?religion is important to most people's identity. Specific training on religion is available to DFID staff through the FCO’s Diplomatic Academy. DFID’s cadre of Social Development Advisers specialise in understanding religious diversity and religious freedom and provide support across the DFID Nigeria office. In addition, our Nigerian local staff provide first-hand insight into the role of religion and religious actors within Nigerian society, including conflicts affecting the country. DFID also use expertise from the FCO’s Africa Research Group and conflict-prevention experts.
We are now working on an enhanced training offer related to religion as part of our commitment to implement the recommendations made in the Bishop of Truro's independent review. This work is being led by the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Rehman Chishti MP.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether President Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe has been invited to the UK-Africa Investment Summit scheduled to take place in January 2020.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In January, the Government will host the UK-Africa Investment Summit. The summit will bring together African governments; UK and African businesses; and major international organisations. Formal invitations will be issued shortly from the Prime Minister to invited Heads of State.
The cost of the event is in line with events of a similar size and ambition recently delivered by HMG. We will ensure it delivers value for money and provides positive benefits for both African countries and for the UK.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea has been invited to the UK-Africa Investment Summit scheduled for January 2020.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In January, the Government will host the UK-Africa Investment Summit. The summit will bring together African governments; UK and African businesses; and major international organisations. Formal invitations will be issued shortly from the Prime Minister to invited Heads of State.
The cost of the event is in line with events of a similar size and ambition recently delivered by HMG. We will ensure it delivers value for money and provides positive benefits for both African countries and for the UK.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the cost of the UK-Africa Investment Summit scheduled for January 2020.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In January, the Government will host the UK-Africa Investment Summit. The summit will bring together African governments; UK and African businesses; and major international organisations. Formal invitations will be issued shortly from the Prime Minister to invited Heads of State.
The cost of the event is in line with events of a similar size and ambition recently delivered by HMG. We will ensure it delivers value for money and provides positive benefits for both African countries and for the UK.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions his Department has had representatives of African Union on tackling child deaths from Aids in sub-Saharan Southern Africa.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The UK remains a world leader in efforts to end new HIV infections and preventable AIDS-related deaths including through our major investment in the Global Fund which in 2018 helped protect over 700,000 babies from being infected by their mothers. We are now stepping up on efforts to end preventable deaths of mothers, new-born babies and children in the developing world by 2030.
We work closely with many international partners including the African Union on UK priorities including HIV. For example, through our seat on the Executive Board of Unitaid, we discuss ways to tackle child deaths from AIDS, with a representative of African countries designated by the African Union.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether President Biya of Cameroon has been invited to the UK-Africa Investment Summit scheduled for January 2020.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In January, the Government will host the UK-Africa Investment Summit. The summit will bring together African governments; UK and African businesses; and major international organisations. Formal invitations will be issued shortly from the Prime Minister to invited Heads of State.
The cost of the event is in line with events of a similar size and ambition recently delivered by HMG. We will ensure it delivers value for money and provides positive benefits for both African countries and for the UK.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2017.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Information on ministerial travel is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department for International Development publishes data on ministerial overseas travel on a quarterly basis in arrears at the following link: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/8167ded1-0d4c-41ee-afd7-a6b39f2d1205/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-with-external-organisations-in-the-department-for-international-development
We do not routinely publish any national travel costs for Ministers.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2018.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Information on ministerial travel is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department for International Development publishes data on ministerial overseas travel on a quarterly basis in arrears at the following link: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/8167ded1-0d4c-41ee-afd7-a6b39f2d1205/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-with-external-organisations-in-the-department-for-international-development
We do not routinely publish any national travel costs for Ministers.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much his Department spent on refreshments in (a) 2017 and (b) 2018.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
DFID has two headquarter buildings in the UK, one at 22 Whitehall and the other at Abercrombie House in East Kilbride.
Hospitality spend at each HQ was:
| 22 Whitehall | Abercrombie House |
2017 | £2,913.64 | £3,137.86 |
2018 | £9,632.63 | £2,103.22 |
Total | £12,546.27 | £5,241.08 |
These figures refer to calendar years.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) in total in 2018.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.