Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been paid to BBC Media Action in the last five years and for what particular purposes; whether evaluations by the Department for International Development found spending objectives have been achieved; and whether there are plans to continue these payments.
Answered by Lord Bates
In the five years to November 2016 the Government provided approximately £101 million directly to BBC Media Action, including £86 million from DFID and £15 million from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Conflict Stability and Security Fund. DFID also provided approximately £17 million subcontracted via other programmes.
The direct funding has included work to improve people’s access to health information, resilience to natural disasters and community dialogues to foster peace and accountability. DFID’s reviews of its global programme have assessed that objectives were exceeded, for example 92 million people in Africa and Asia have been reached through targeted radio and television programmes and public service advertisements designed to improve the health of mothers and their children. In 2016, 60% reported adopting healthier behaviours on issues such as antenatal care, breastfeeding and safe delivery.
The DFID global programme will end in 2017 but other programmes will continue beyond 2017. Future funding by HMG will be determined on a case by case basis and depend on robust value for money assessments.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 24 October (HL2166), under what criteria, and in what circumstances, the education allowance to staff of the Department for International Development is paid.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Department for International Development (DFID) provides an education allowance to help UK based employees undertaking overseas assignments to ensure their children receive a quality education where free education does not exist or is unsuitable.
To qualify the employee must; serve for at least 12 months on an overseas assignment, be accompanied by partner and have children educated at primary or secondary school in the UK or at the overseas location. Employees who are single, widowed, divorced or legally separated are also entitled to the same support.
In certain circumstances, the allowance is paid to DFID employees based in the UK. These circumstances include; if employees children are in examination years when returning to the UK, (this is to ensure continuity of education and offer children assurance through examination process), if the security situation changes in country and DFID needs to evacuate employees and/or children or if prior to travel to overseas location a payment may be made up to 6 weeks before the start of a term.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff of the Department for International Development stationed in the UK are in receipt of support for private school fees; and what was the cost in 2015–16.
Answered by Lord Bates
DFID spend on education allowance for staff in the UK in 2015/16 was £133,892.21. The number of staff in receipt of education allowance in the UK is withheld as the number is so low that it has the potential to identify individuals.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the result of the latest annual review into the grant of £90 million by the Department for International Development to BBC Media Action; whether any evaluation report has suggested that the project's impact and outcomes are unlikely to be achieved; how much of the grant has been spent and where; and what are the BBC's current priorities in relation to the project.
Answered by Baroness Northover
The latest annual review for DFID’s grant to BBC Media Action, completed in November 2014, found the project results to have exceeded its plan.
From November 2011 to November 2014 the project has spent £53.3 million in the following countries; Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Burma, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. Additional activities took place through an Asia regional programme. BBC Media Action’s priority for the global grant continues to be supporting media outputs that contribute to better governance, healthier populations and an increased ability to cope with crises.