Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department is reviewing the contract between British International Investment (CDC) and DP World for port infrastructure projects in (a) Egypt, (b) Senegal and (c) Somaliland; and what assessment she has made of the impact of UK public funding for those projects on (1) workers’ rights and (2) the (A) inclusivity and (B) sustainability of development in those countries.

British International Investment's (BII) contract with DP World is not being considered as part of the review being undertaken by the Secretary of State for Transport of Government-held contracts with P&O Ferries or its parent, DP World, as BII operates at arm's length to the Government and all investment decisions by BII are made independently. BII's partnership with DP World is therefore not in scope for this HMG Review. The FCDO is not reviewing this contract as it adheres to the investment policy and policy for responsible investing that the FCDO has agreed with BII.

BII's Policy on Responsible Investing includes a focus on job quality, including the rights of workers and employees, is aligned to international best practice and sets out the approach to environment, social and governance (ESG) matters. All investments - including BII's investment partnership with DP World in Africa - are subject to these standards.

Africa has a sixth of the world's population, but accounts for just 4 per cent of global containerised shipping volumes. Ports are vital to the long-term prosperity of the continent. BII partnered with DP World to modernise and expand ports and logistics across Africa starting with three ports in Dakar, Sokhna and Berbera. Trade enabled through the three initial ports will improve access to vital goods for 35 million people and support 5 million jobs (138,000 created). By 2035, an estimated $51 billion in additional trade is forecast to pass through the ports, equivalent to 3 per cent of Senegal's GDP, 3 per cent of Egypt's GDP and 6 per cent of Somaliland's GDP.