Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in redirecting aid programmes in each relevant country in Africa through (1) their country programmes, (2) multilateral programmes, and (3) the World Food Programme; and for full details in each case.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Many bilateral and multilateral aid programmes across Africa have been redirected, prioritising health, humanitarian, growth and trade as well as education and nutrition, recognising that these components are vital both for the immediate response to COVID-19, and for longer-term recovery. The UK has successfully pivoted huge amounts of programming to support nimble and innovative responses in African countries.
For example, in South Sudan, the UK is making a significant contribution to government-led efforts to prevent and respond to cases of COVID-19, including through support for infection prevention and control as well as water, sanitation and hygiene activities. The UK’s flagship Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme (WISH) has been adapted in 24 countries across Africa to ensure the continuation of lifesaving services to marginalised women and girls despite COVID-19. Multilaterally, £20m has been provided towards the African Union’s new COVID-19 response plan which funds and deploys health workers, clinical equipment, and capacity building training to all 55 AU Member States. In 2020, DFID has so far provided USD 254million to support the World Food Programme’s operations – this includes a USD 19million contribution to The World Food Programme’s Global Services in response to COVID-19.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made, if any, of the proportion of the UK aid budget now spent outside of the Department for International Development.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
In 2019, 27% of UK ODA was spent outside of the Department for International Development. This includes spend by other government departments and funds as well as non-departmental spend such as debt relief and the proportion of gift aid used on ODA eligible activities.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made, if any, of the reduction in the annual UK aid budget as a result of the reduction in the UK Gross National Income due to the economic impact of COVID-19.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Given the likely decrease in the size of the economy this year, and therefore a decrease in the value of the 0.7% commitment, a package of £2.9bn of reductions in the Government’s planned ODA spend has been agreed. This package includes underspends, delaying activity and stopping some spend. The package will see some reductions made now, with arrangements in place to tailor spending further during the remaining months as we start to gain a clearer economic picture. As normal, there will continue to be adjustments in-year to individual departmental ODA spend to meet the 0.7% commitment.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of international standing and influence of (1) the Canadian International Development Agency, following its merger with the Canadian Department of International Affairs and Trade, and (2) Australian Aid, following its merger into the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
We will learn from the examples of Australia and Canada, who run generous and respected development programmes from their foreign ministries. There are lessons we can draw from the experiences of other countries, but we will do this in a way that works best for the UK.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the United States about its decision to reduce funding to the World Health Organisation and the effects such reductions would have on the international efforts to combat COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The United States has since made a further announcement regarding their funding to and relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Department is regularly in discussions with other countries on a wide range of issues relating to the international response to COVID-19 including the United States. The United States continues to play an important role on global health, and we will continue to work with the United States and other international partners to tackle the current crisis. The United Kingdom has a strong and committed relationship with the WHO and, as the second largest Member State donor, continues to work closely with the WHO. The UK has already contributed £75 million to help the WHO lead international efforts to stop the spread of the virus and end the pandemic and the UK has no plans to stop funding the WHO, which has an important role to play in leading the global health response to COVID-19.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the United States about its decision to de-fund the World Health Organisation and the resulting effect on the international efforts to combat COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The United States has since made a further announcement regarding their funding to and relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Department is regularly in discussions with other countries on a wide range of issues relating to the international response to COVID-19 including the United States. The United States continues to play an important role on global health, and we will continue to work with the United States and other international partners to tackle the current crisis. The United Kingdom has a strong and committed relationship with the WHO and, as the second largest Member State donor, continues to work closely with the WHO. The UK has already contributed £75 million to help the WHO lead international efforts to stop the spread of the virus and end the pandemic and the UK has no plans to stop funding the WHO, which has an important role to play in leading the global health response to COVID-19.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support proposals made at the IMF and World Bank spring meetings to issue additional Special Drawing Rights to (1) African, and (2) other IMF members, in need of liquidity.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Government has been vocal in supporting the IMF in its response to liquidity challenges posed by Covid-19.
In response to the crisis, the IMF has doubled its concessional emergency financing support available through the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) and provided debt relief through the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT). Several African countries have benefited from support from the PRGT and CCRT.
The UK has strongly supported these efforts. In the face of increased demand for PRGT and CCRT resources, the UK has recently agreed a new £2.2bn loan to the PRGT and provided a contribution of up to £150m to the CCRT.
The Government welcomes the IMF’s recent agreement on a new instrument, the Short-term Liquidity Line, to provide liquidity support for IMF members with strong macro-economic fundamentals. The Government has also encouraged the IMF to keep the possibility of a Special Drawing Rights allocation under review, and will continue to do so.
HM Treasury is the department responsible for the UK’s relationship with the IMF. The relevant Cabinet committees have agreed on the importance of supporting vulnerable countries in responding to the crisis, including through the IMF.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had with Cabinet colleagues on their policy at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring meetings on the issuing of additional special drawing rights to (1) African countries, and (2) other IMF members, which need the liquidity.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Government has been vocal in supporting the IMF in its response to liquidity challenges posed by Covid-19.
In response to the crisis, the IMF has doubled its concessional emergency financing support available through the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) and provided debt relief through the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT). Several African countries have benefited from support from the PRGT and CCRT.
The UK has strongly supported these efforts. In the face of increased demand for PRGT and CCRT resources, the UK has recently agreed a new £2.2bn loan to the PRGT and provided a contribution of up to £150m to the CCRT.
The Government welcomes the IMF’s recent agreement on a new instrument, the Short-term Liquidity Line, to provide liquidity support for IMF members with strong macro-economic fundamentals. The Government has also encouraged the IMF to keep the possibility of a Special Drawing Rights allocation under review, and will continue to do so.
HM Treasury is the department responsible for the UK’s relationship with the IMF. The relevant Cabinet committees have agreed on the importance of supporting vulnerable countries in responding to the crisis, including through the IMF.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they supported proposals made at recent meetings of G20 representatives for a global mechanism to provide affordable testing, treatment and vaccination for COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting was held on 19 April. During its intervention, the United Kingdom emphasised the importance of a coordinated global response to COVID-19, including on the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.
A globally accessible vaccine, alongside effective tests and treatments is needed to end the pandemic and start global economic recovery. This will need unprecedented global collaboration and resourcing to drive the speed and scale needed.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what their policy was at the recent G20 meetings of health ministers on the proposal for a COVID-19 global mechanism for all countries to access affordable testing, treatment and vaccines.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting was held on 19 April. During its intervention, the United Kingdom emphasised the importance of a coordinated global response to COVID-19, including on the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.
A globally accessible vaccine, alongside effective tests and treatments is needed to end the pandemic and start global economic recovery. This will need unprecedented global collaboration and resourcing to drive the speed and scale needed.