Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the UN Commission on the Status of Women's decision to (a) change its climate change commitments from the declaration and (b) remove sexual and reproductive health rights from the declaration on levels of international support for women and girls.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Member states successfully adopted a consensus Political Declaration at the 69th UN Commission on the Status of Women. In our assessment, new language on the right of all women and girls to enjoy the highest standard of physical and mental health, including maternal and neonatal health, menstrual health and hygiene management, shows progress made. The text on climate change remains unchanged from the 2020 Political Declaration. Our focus is now on embedding women and girls in all our work, including defending and promoting universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights as a fundamental element of gender equality, global health, democracy and economic development.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans his Department has to take a leadership role in negotiations for the Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response accord ahead of the next World Health Assembly in May 2025.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to working with our international partners to land an agreement that enables the world to better prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics, and delivers for UK health security, growth and jobs. The Accord is being drafted and negotiated by Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO), including the UK, who have until the World Health Assembly in May 2025, at the latest, to reach an agreement on the Accord. The UK continues to play a leading role in seeking to reach an effective agreement that is in our national interest, both in the negotiations at the WHO, and in wider conversations with other member states and stakeholders.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Peruvian counterpart on that country's new law expanding the powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation.
Answered by Catherine West
We are aware that Peru's Congress has approved a controversial reform expanding the powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) and strengthening state oversight of non-governmental organisations.
We have been monitoring the debate closely in recent months. Along with international partners, we have previously raised concerns about potential risks with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (who are responsible for APCI), and offered to share best practice.
We are now evaluating the new regulations. We will continue to collaborate closely with the Peruvian government to promote sustainable development underpinned by respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential merits of continuing funding for the Blue Belt international marine conservation programme beyond 2025.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK Government Ministers meet regularly through the Overseas Territories Ministerial Group to discuss key priorities, the last was held on 5 March. Territory Governments, Ministers from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs discussed Overseas Territories environmental priorities during the annual Joint Ministerial Council (November 2024) where a commitment to the continuation of the Blue Belt Programme was provided in the Joint Communique. The UK Government remains committed to supporting the Blue Belt Programme, which underpins global ocean protection ambition. Future funding for the Programme remains subject to ongoing spending review considerations.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Peru's new law expanding the powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation on (a) civil society and (b) indigenous peoples in that country.
Answered by Catherine West
We are aware that Peru's Congress has approved a reform expanding the powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) and strengthening state oversight of non-governmental organisations.
Given our strong partnership with Peru, we have been monitoring developments closely. We are evaluating the impact of the new regulations, including the issues put forward by some civil society and indigenous people's groups. Alongside international partners, we have previously raised concerns about the potential risks of new controls for civic society and offered to share best practice in this important area.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question 30101 on Israel: Hamas, which partners are reporting and monitoring aid losses; and whether their assessments will be published.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) maintains regular communication with the UN, like-minded donors, and our other partners to understand the risk of aid losses and share approaches to mitigation. We consistently communicate our expectation that losses are reported to us proactively, in line with our signed agreements - with which they comply fully. The FCDO's Fraud Investigations Team ensures robust investigations take place where loss is identified, and works with our partners to understand ongoing risks and learn lessons from all cases. Individual investigation reports and outcomes are confidential, but details of total losses, along with details of any loss over £300,000, are published in the FCDO's Annual Report and Accounts.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 27261 on Israel: Hamas, if he will make an assessment of the value of Overseas Development Aid spent in the last five years that has been destroyed during the course of the conflict in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK works closely with trusted partners to ensure timely reporting and monitoring of aid losses. Following the ceasefire, partners are continuing to assess the situation on the ground after 15 months of conflict. Our understanding of the impact on UK aid provided will be drawn from these assessments. To note, UK funding is used to support a wide range of activities and services, as well as provision of goods. We welcome reports that more aid has been entering Gaza during the ceasefire period and continue to urge all parties to ensure that aid can safely and effectively reach those who need it in all parts of Gaza.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 27260 on Gaza: Energy and Water Supply, if he will request that the funding supplied to the World Bank for the construction and restoration of critical energy and waste infrastructure in Gaza will be tendered to Gaza-owned construction companies.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
According to the World Bank's Procurement Regulations, eligible firms and individuals from all countries are allowed to offer goods, works, non-consulting services, and consulting services for Bank-financed projects globally. This means that suppliers or contractors based in Gaza have the same rights as those from other regions to participate in bids targeting Gaza.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British UNRWA workers were expelled as a result of the Israeli legislation enforced on 30 January 2025.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has not released data on the nationality of international staff members who left the Occupied Palestinian Territories as a result of Israeli legislation which came into force on 30 January. The UK remains opposed to the legislation; the vital work of UNRWA in ensuring that Palestinians have access to education and healthcare must be protected in Gaza as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The UK continues to lead international action to press for a resolution to this urgent issue. On 31 January we joined with Germany and France to call on Israel to abide by its international obligations and live up to its responsibility to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance and the provision of basic services to the civilian population.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the World Bank on steps to ensure construction businesses in Gaza benefit from recently announced funding towards the restoration of critical water and energy infrastructure.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has committed an additional £2 million of funding through the World Bank to support the construction and restoration of critical energy and water infrastructure in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Gaza. This will compliment our diplomatic advocacy alongside the Office of the Quartet and funding efforts to support the resumption of basic services in Gaza as well as other enabling conditions for early recovery efforts in Gaza.