Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Department for International Development:
What her Department's priorities are for 2019.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
DFID will continue to lead the UK’s work to end extreme poverty, deliver the Sustainable Development Goals and tackle the global challenges in line with the UK government’s Aid Strategy.
As the UK leaves the European Union, strengthening our global presence will be vital, and I am determined that DFID will play a full part in this – maintaining and enhancing the UK’s position as a global development superpower.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing to the Dominican Republic to assist with the flooding in that country.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The UK has monitored the situation since heavy persistent rain started falling in parts of the Dominican Republic on 7 November and stood ready to offer assistance if required.
The Government of the Dominican Republic have not requested international assistance.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK Government aid to the Palestinian Territories is not used to help finance violence or terrorism.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
No UK aid is used for payments to Palestinian prisoners, or their families. The UK’s direct financial assistance to the PA is used to pay the salaries of public sector workers only. Our support is provided through a multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank, which carries out close monitoring of Palestinian Authority expenditure. Only named civil servants from a pre-approved EU list are eligible. The process is subject to independent auditing.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what mechanisms for oversight her Department has for UK Government aid to the Palestinian Authority.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
UK direct financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is used to pay the salaries of civil servant and pensioners. Our support is provided through a multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank, which carries out close monitoring of PA expenditure. Only named civil servants from a pre-approved European Union list are eligible, and the vetting process ensures that our funds do not benefit terrorist groups. The process is subject to independent auditing.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her Department has allocated to support resettlement of Syrian refugees.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
DFID has agreed to fund the ODA-eligible costs of the Syria refugee resettlement scheme for this financial year - discussions are ongoing to determine the precise amount necessary. From next year ODA funding for the scheme will be transferred directly from Treasury to the Home Office.