Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their priorities for the UK–Africa Investment Summit being hosted by the UK in January 2020.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK-Africa Investment Summit will create new lasting partnerships that will deliver more investment, jobs and growth. This will benefit people and businesses across Africa and in the UK. The IMF estimates that Africa is home to eight of the world’s 15 fastest growing economies. By 2050, over 2 billion people will live in Africa and 1 in 4 global consumers will be African. But African countries receive less than 4% of foreign direct investment and around 20 million jobs a year must be created to keep pace with population growth. Hosted by the Prime Minister, the Summit will bring together UK and African business representatives, African leaders and delegations from 21 countries, international institutions and young entrepreneurs. As we strengthen our place in the world, we want the UK to be the investment partner of choice for African nations. We have world-leading expertise on tech and innovation, the City of London is the number one global exchange for African businesses, and we are committed to green growth.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which (1) governments, (2) international organisations, and (3) businesses, have been invited to attend the UK–Africa Investment Summit being hosted by the UK in January 2020.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Summit will bring together African leaders and delegations from 21 countries who have been invited: Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda.
6 multilateral organisations and international financial institutions have also been invited: African Development Bank, African Union, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Monetary Fund, United Nations, World Bank.
We have invited hundreds of UK and African business representatives and representatives from Civil Society Organisations.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in setting up, funding and leading the Inclusive Education Initiative as proposed at the Global Disability Summit in July 2018; and whether it will become operational in 2019.
Answered by Lord Bates
The UK is committed to supporting the Inclusive Education Initiative which will become operational in 2019. Since the Global Disability Summit in July, we have been working closely with partners the World Bank and Norway to establish the Initiative, finalising operational and design arrangements. DFID’s year one contribution was announced at the launch of the Disability Inclusion Strategy in December and will be £1.5 million commencing in April 2019.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UN Population Fund report The Power of Choice: reproductive rights and the demographic transition, published in October; and whether they plan to respond to the recommendations outlined in that report.
Answered by Lord Bates
We welcome UNFPA’s new report and the breadth of important ground it covers. While we are currently digesting the report’s findings we are delighted that UNFPA emphasises among its recommendations issues as varied as ending child marriage, championing reproductive rights, achieving gender equality and reaching young people and adolescents; all areas in which the UK is proud to lead the world. We will continue to be a strong partner to UNFPA, including on working to reduce unmet need for modern family planning and to support the demographic transition in the poorest countries.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mark the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities; and whether such plans will reflect this year's focus on empowering persons with disabilities for an inclusive, equitable and sustainable development as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Department for International Development will mark the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December by launching DFID’s new Disability Strategy at an event co-hosted with the BOND Disability and Development Group. The Strategy sets the empowerment of all people with disabilities at its centre, reflecting the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Many DFID offices around the world will also be marking the day with national events.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 18 September (HL10125), what discussions UK ministers attending the UN General Assembly in September 2018 had with representatives of the government of the United States of America regarding that government's decision to withdraw funding from the UN Population Fund; and what were the results of any such discussions.
Answered by Lord Bates
There were no specific discussions with the US Government on this topic at the UN General Assembly. Discussions between UK and US officials will continue to take place regularly on a range of matters related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. The UK remains the world’s largest donor to the UN Population Fund, enabling it to carry out its lifesaving work supporting some of the poorest and most marginalised people around the world.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the government of the United States about its decision to withdraw funding from the UN Population Fund; and what were the results of any such discussions.
Answered by Lord Bates
Discussions between UK and US officials take place regularly on a range of matters related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. The UK remains the world’s largest donor to the UN Population Fund, enabling it to carry out its lifesaving work supporting some of the poorest and most marginalised people around the world.