Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific on 3 April (HC237139), what are the objectives of the Integrated Activity Fund.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Integrated Activity Fund was introduced in the 2015 Spending Round to enable activity when funding from core departmental, or other sources, cannot be made available to service the British Government's Gulf Strategy. It is intended to support the delivery of flexible, cross-cutting and sustained investment in the region.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to allocate unused money from the Integrated Activity Fund.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Integrated Activity Fund is intended to be both flexible and responsive, able to support Her Majesty's Government (HMG's) needs in the Gulf Region in the achievement of regional strategic objectives. In the event that there is likely to be unused money at the end of the financial year it will, with the agreement of Her Majesty's Treasury, be used to support HMG strategic objectives elsewhere.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was spent from the Integrated Activity Fund in the financial year 2017-18.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Overall spend from the Gulf Strategy Integrated Activity Fund (IAF) in financial year 2017/18 was £13,926,204. This figure is subject to final Departmental audits.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what resources his Department received from the Integrated Activity Fund in financial year 2017-18.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the of Minister of State for the Middle East at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr Alistair Burt) on 11 July 2018 to Question 161132 to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Mr Jonathan Edwards).
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current involvement, if any, of the National Security Council in the Gulf Strategy Integrated Activity Fund.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The National Security Council is responsible for agreeing the Gulf Strategy, which guides Integrated Activity Fund priorities.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2018 to Question 157709, on what date the Gulf Integrated Activity Fund transferred from the Cabinet Office to his Department.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Gulf Integrated Activity Fund transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at the start of the 2018-2019 financial year. It remains a cross Whitehall fund.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much of the Integrated Activity Fund was allocated to the Ministry of Defence for the 2018-2019 financial year.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Integrated Activity Fund is intended to facilitate integration and coordination across Government departments with an interest in the Gulf. As such, many of the programmes involve multiple departmental interests and it is not possible to disaggregate accurately between departments in all cases.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Integrated Activity Fund has received any funding from the Official Development Assistance budget.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Integrated Activity Fund has not received funding from the Official Development Assistance budget.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the terms of reference are for the Integrated Activity Fund; and which projects have received funding from that fund.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Gulf Integrated Activity Fund (IAF) was introduced in the 2015 Spending Round and spending commenced in Financial Year 16/17 to enable activity when funding from core departmental, or other sources, cannot be made available to service the British Government's Gulf Strategy. It is intended to support the delivery of flexible, cross-cutting and sustained investment in the region.
The IAF provides funding in support of a range of programmes across the Gulf Region. These include, but are not limited to, activities focusing on aquaculture, sport and culture, healthcare and institutional capacity building. We are not able to disclose information related to IAF programmes in greater detail as we have a duty to maintain the confidence and confidentiality of our partners. All of our work is in line with international standards and aims to share the UK's expertise and experience.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the (1) allocated budget and (2) actual spend for the Integrated Activity Fund for the financial year 2015–16.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Integrated Activity Fund began in financial year 2016-17. Its allocation was £80 million over the Spending Review period.