Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop the network of Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth in 2026.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As set out by the Foreign Secretary in her speech on 24 November marking twenty-five years of the UN's Women Peace and Security agenda, the UK is committed to tackling gender inequality and violence against women and girls wherever it occurs around the world, and we will continue to place female empowerment at the heart of our international work.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the strengthening stage of works will be completed on Hammersmith Bridge so that it can reopen to traffic.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
My officials are continuing to progress work on the viable engineering and funding solutions discussed at the previous meeting of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce, and further updates will be made available in the near future.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether extra pollution has been caused by diverted traffic due to the length of time that Hammersmith Bridge has been closed.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
My officials are continuing to work closely with Transport for London to progress an assessment of the traffic levels in South-West London following the closure of Hammersmith Bridge to motor vehicles, and further updates will be made available in the near future.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will put forward a candidate for the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in 2026; and if so, what the process to select that candidate will be, and how they will support that candidate.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Government is fully committed to fulfilling its obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and recognises the important role the CEDAW Committee plays in holding States Parties to account in implementing the treaty.
The UK takes a strategic approach to multilateral elections, running a small number of high priority campaigns each year. After careful consideration, the Government will not be nominating a candidate for the 2026 CEDAW Committee election due to other priorities. However, as with all UN bodies, the Government will carefully consider whether to nominate a UK representative for future vacancies which will arise to the Committee. It remains the UK’s ambition to demonstrate leadership on promoting gender equality which aligns with CEDAW’s principles.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have appointed the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, and if so, when they will announce that appointment.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided on 27 November to Question HL11898.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the announced staff cuts at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps they will take to ensure that gender and conflict considerations will remain central to the UK’s diplomatic and development work.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to becoming a smaller, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Staff reductions are being made strategically, with decisions guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise. The FCDO plans to publish indicative Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations for the next three years in the coming months, which will continue to reflect our commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how the announced 15 to 25 per cent staff reduction at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office align with (1) the Government's foreign policy and development priorities and (2) with the Government’s international commitments to women, peace and security, such as the UK’s Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to becoming a smaller, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Staff reductions are being made strategically, with decisions guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise. The FCDO plans to publish indicative Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations for the next three years in the coming months, which will continue to reflect our commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, what steps they are taking to ensure that staff cuts at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office do not affect the UK's influence on the women, peace and security agenda.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to becoming a smaller, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Staff reductions are being made strategically, with decisions guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise. The FCDO plans to publish indicative Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations for the next three years in the coming months, which will continue to reflect our commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether resources are going to be cut to the women, peace and security agenda; and if so, by how much.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to becoming a smaller, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Staff reductions are being made strategically, with decisions guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise. The FCDO plans to publish indicative Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations for the next three years in the coming months, which will continue to reflect our commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the reasons for the cuts to staff at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to becoming a smaller, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Staff reductions are being made strategically, with decisions guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise. The FCDO plans to publish indicative Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations for the next three years in the coming months, which will continue to reflect our commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.