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Written Question
Development Aid: Genito-urinary Medicine
Friday 24th May 2024

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, how much and what proportion of total Government official development assistance was allocated to sexual and reproductive health and rights in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) annually reports on Official Development Assistance (ODA) expenditure via the Statistics on International Development publications (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-international-development). We report spend in line with OECD Development and Assistance Committee sector codes and do not readily hold spend on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), which can span across the OECD sector codes.

However, based on FCDO "Statistics on International Development: final UK aid spend 2022", and the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) spend methodology laid out in the Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) led "Donor Delivering for SRHR" (https://donorsdelivering.report/all-editions/) we estimate the amount of UK ODA SRHR funding disbursed was £534 million or 4.68 per cent of the total Government official development assistance in 2021.

Please note these figures are not adjusted for inflation and thus are not directly comparable with the ones from the Donor Delivering for SRHR report.


Written Question
Development Aid: Genito-urinary Medicine
Friday 24th May 2024

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will publish a list of his Department's expenditure directly targeting reproductive health under input sector codes (a) 13010, (b) 13021/22, (c) 13030 and (d) 13081 in (i) 2021, (ii) 2022 and (iii) 2023.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) annually reports on Official Development Assistance (ODA) expenditure via the Statistics on International Development publications (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-international-development) and are reported in line with OECD Development and Assistance Committee sector codes.

FCDO spend (in £)

2021

2022

a. 13010 -Population policy and administrative management

6,745,320

3,776,415

b. 13020 - Reproductive health care

55,139,054

91,620,458

c. 13030 - Family Planning

128,880,416

112,049,700

d. 13081 - Personnel development for population and reproductive health

3,161,605

4,121,363

Please note "13020" is the official OECD DAC code for both "13021" and "13022". These codes were defined and solely used by the former Department for International Development. They did not exist in the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office spend data and would not provide a complete picture for the FCDO.

Data for 2023 is not available yet.


Written Question
Social Services: Finance
Friday 24th May 2024

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of local authority funding changes on hospital discharge times to social care.

Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

The Government has made available up to £8.6 billion in additional funding over the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25, to support adult social care and discharge. This includes £1.6 billion through the Discharge Fund, to support the National Health Service and local authorities to ensure timely and effective discharge from hospital. This funding enables local authorities to buy more care packages, help people leave hospital on time, improve workforce recruitment and retention, and reduce waiting times for care.


Written Question
Local Government Finance
Friday 24th May 2024

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with (a) HM Treasure and (b) the Prime Minister's Office on the local government funding settlement.

Answered by Simon Hoare

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.


Written Question
Local Government: Contracts for Services
Friday 24th May 2024

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of local services outsourced by local authorities.

Answered by Simon Hoare

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.


Written Question
Local Government: Pay
Friday 24th May 2024

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the budgetary capacity of local authorities to deliver pay awards in line with inflation.

Answered by Simon Hoare

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.


Written Question
Asylum
Wednesday 22nd May 2024

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department issues to asylum seekers on (a) housing, (b) work rights and (c) recourse to public funds once they have been granted leave to remain.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

Individuals granted asylum have access to the labour market and to mainstream services that support their integration, including benefits and healthcare. We are working across Government to ensure these services meet the needs of all newly granted refugees.

Support is offered from Migrant Help or their partner organisation to all individuals when they receive a decision on their asylum claim. This support includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.


Written Question
Development Aid
Wednesday 22nd May 2024

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what funding his Department provided for (a) core, (b) non-core and (c) other funding for (i) the UN Population Fund, (ii) the World Health Organisation, (iii) the UN International Children's Emergency Fund, (iv) the Joint UN Programme on HIV and AIDS, (v) the International Planned Parenthood Federation, (vi) Women and Children First UK, (vii) the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and (viii) the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in (A) 2021, (B) 2022 and (C) 2023.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The table below details the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's contributions to (i) the UN Population Fund, (ii) the World Health Organisation, (iii) the UN International Children's Emergency Fund, (iv) the Joint UN Programme on HIV and AIDS, (v) the International Planned Parenthood Federation, , (vi) the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and (vii) the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in (A) 2021, (B) 2022. Official figures for spend in 2023 have not yet been published.

Funding for 'Women and Children First' ceased in 2016.

Type

2021

2022

UN Population Fund

Core

8,000,000

8,000,000

Non-core

57,320,000

97,510,000

Other

0

0

The World Health Organisation

Core

97,600,000

97,750,000

Non-core

35,530,000

43,650,000

Other

0

0

The UN International Children's Emergency Fund

Core

24,000,000

8,000,000

Non-core

201,540,000

202,170,000

Other

0

0

The Joint UN Programme on HIV and AIDS

Core

2,500,000

8,000,000

Non-core

0

0

Other

0

0

The International Planned Parenthood Federation

Core

0

0

Non-core

42,530,000

22,230,000

Other

0

0

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria

Core

380,000,000

434,000,000

Non-core

0

0

Other

0

0

The UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Core

5,750,000

0

Non-core

3,430,000

4,700,000

Other

0

0

Note:

  • The 2021 and 2022 figures are drawn from FCDO's Statistics on International Development (SID) reports. 2023 SID figures will be released in Autumn 2024.

  • The UK's membership fee (Assessed contributions) for WHO is paid by Department for Health and Social care.


Written Question
Bilateral Aid: HIV Infection
Friday 17th May 2024

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will publish details of his Department's bilateral expenditure that has directly targeted tackling HIV and AIDS in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The UK remains a significant funder in the HIV response. In (i) 2021 and (ii) 2022 total bilateral expenditure for HIV and AIDS was (i) £5,831,984 and (ii) £10,035,256 respectively. Of this total Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office bilateral spend was (i) £4,548,553 and (ii) £9,916,750 for 2021 and 2022 respectively. This includes our funding to the Clinton Health Access Initiative to further improve access to essential HIV medicines and our funding to the Robert Carr Fund to support initiatives with grassroots organisations, including key populations, as part of the global HIV response.

Figures for 2023 are not yet available. They will be published in Autumn 2024.


Written Question
Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination
Monday 13th May 2024

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to increase HPV vaccination uptake.

Answered by Maria Caulfield

National Health Service commissioned School Age Immunisation Service providers have robust catch-up plans in place for the adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme based on population need, utilising opportunities from the move to one dose in September 2023.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely with several charities to develop resources that can be used to raise awareness of HPV. The UKHSA also publishes annual statistics to support local NHS teams in developing plans to improve uptake and reduce inequalities for the HPV universal programme. These statistics are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/human-papillomavirus-hpv-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-2022-to-2023/human-papillomavirus-hpv-vaccination-coverage-in-adolescents-in-england-2022-to-2023#:~:text=HPV%20vaccine%20coverage%20in%20England,pandemic%20(2018%20to%202019)

NHS England has improved digital communications on vaccinations, including expanding the NHS app, and has improved access to the vaccine outside of schools through community clinics at convenient times and locations. The UKHSA also produces a number of HPV resources, which are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hpv-vaccination-programme

Other materials are available on the UKHSA Health Publications website in a range of languages and accessible formats, which are available at the following link:

https://www.healthpublications.gov.uk/Home.html