Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure the Victims Funding Strategy is effectively communicated to the relevant authorities.
Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
Since publication of the Victims Funding Strategy (VFS) in May 2022, officials within the Ministry of Justice have had regular engagement with Police and Crime Commissioners’ (PCC) offices to embed its principles of funding the sector more strategically, removing barriers to access, and implementing clear and consistent outcomes.
This engagement includes recently established PCC forums, which bring groups of PCC officials together to discuss local commissioning and share best practice to improve commissioning standards.
In addition, Ministry of Justice officials have also regularly communicated the VFS principles and its implementation with the Local Government Association and with NHS England, to ensure the VFS is considered by local authorities and clinical commissioners as part of their victim support strategy planning. Other government departments continue to be engaged extensively on VFS implementation in their role as national commissioners.
In the VFS, we committed to reviewing and refreshing the Victim Services Commissioning Framework. This work is currently in development, and will be a positive step to ensuring that the principles of the VFS are reflected in commissioning decisions across all local commissioners. The refreshed framework will be published next year.
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, with reference to the Answer of 16 October 2023 to Question 203848 on the UN Population Fund and to the £425 million the UK Government pledged to the United Nations Population Fund Supplies Partnership in 2019 for 2020-2025, to how much that figure was reduced as a result of the decision to reduce that pledge in 2021; and whether the Government is on track to disburse the remaining sum outstanding under that revised pledge by the end of 2025.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK Government previously agreed to provide the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Supplies Partnership with £425 million from 2020 - 2025. This was later reduced following reductions in Overseas Development Assistance spend in 2021 to £264 million from 2020-2025. We are, however, still the largest donor to UNFPA Supplies and we are supporting supplies in additional ways such as through market shaping.
The UK Government has disbursed £204 million and is on track to disburse the final £60 million payment next financial year. The programme closes in March 2025.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for NHS gynaecology services in (a) Rotherham and (b) the rest of England.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
We are taking action to recover elective services, including for patients waiting for National Health Service gynaecology services in Rotherham and England, by working towards the targets set out in the Elective Recovery Plan and providing the NHS with record levels of staffing and funding.
£2.3 billionn was awarded at Spending Review 2021 to transform diagnostic services over the next three years. Most of this will help increase the number of Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) up to 160 by March 2025, expanding and protecting elective planned diagnostic services. This includes an established spoke, at Montagu Hospital CDC, to which General Practices in Rotherham constituency can refer patients for key diagnostic checks, tests and scans. The funding will also be used to increase capacity for imaging and improving digital diagnostics.
We are also transforming the way the NHS provides elective care by increasing activity through dedicated and protected surgical hubs, focusing on providing high volume low complexity surgery, as recommended by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. There are currently 95 elective surgical hubs that are operational across England as of 16 November 2023. These surgical hubs will help separate elective care facilities from urgent and emergency care. This includes an elective surgical hub at Sheffield Teaching Hospital, where patients with gynaecological conditions can access surgical treatments.
We are also investing £25 million in women’s health hubs between 2023 and 2025 so that women can get better access to care for essential services such as gynaecology, menstrual problems, contraception and the menopause.
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, with reference to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Assistance Committee handbook for data reporters and users, The OECD-DAC policy marker on the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities, published in December 2020, how many projects in receipt of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from his Department scored a 1 according to that policy marker; and how much ODA his Department disbursed to those projects to spend on disability inclusion in each calendar year since 2018.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO uses the OECD-DAC disability policy marker to indicate what level of disability-inclusive activities take place with each bilateral official development assistance (ODA) programme. A score of 1 indicates that at least some deliberate disability-inclusive activity is undertaken but disability inclusion is not the main purpose of the programme. A score of 2 indicates that addressing disability inclusion is the primary purpose of the programme.
The table below gives ODA spending and project numbers for DFID and FCO (from 2018 to 2020) and FCDO (2021 onwards). The counts in columns (b) and (e) are for individual projects as reported to the OECD-DAC.
Columns (a), (b) and (c) provides the amount of ODA disbursed and details of projects that scored 2 for the marker.
Column (e) and (f) provides the details on the number of ODA projects that scored 1 for the marker.
Column (d) provides the total amount of ODA disbursed in projects that scored 1 for the marker. No information is collected centrally on the amount of ODA that is disbursed solely for disability inclusive activities in projects scoring 1.
Bilateral ODA projects1 with a DAC disability policy marker = 2 | Bilateral ODA projects1 with a DAC disability policy marker = 1 | |||||
Department | Amount of spending (£ millions) (a) | Number of projects (b) | Proportion of all bilateral projects (c) | Amount of spending (£ millions)2 (d) | Number of projects (e) | Proportion of all bilateral projects (f) |
2018 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 6.7 | 12 | 0.5% | 2,304,139 | 874 | 34.2% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Total | 6.7 | 12 | 0.4% | 2,304,139 | 874 | 26.9% |
2019 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 19.6 | 20 | 0.8% | 2,751,165 | 881 | 35.9% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Total | 19.6 | 20 | 0.7% | 2,751,165 | 881 | 29.6% |
2020 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 22.4 | 17 | 0.7% | 2,366,991 | 838 | 36.1% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 42,438 | 124 | N/A |
Total | 22.4 | 17 | 0.6% | 2,409,429 | 962 | 32.8% |
2021 | ||||||
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office | 16.2 | 15 | 0.5% | 1,527,057 | 967 | 32.2% |
20223 | ||||||
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office | 19.0 | 16 | 0.7% | 1,527,146 | 837 | 35.4% |
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, with reference to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Assistance Committee handbook for data reporters and users, The OECD-DAC policy marker on the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities, published in December 2020, how many projects in receipt of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from his Department scored a 2 according to that policy marker; and how much ODA his Department disbursed to those projects in each calendar year since 2018.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO uses the OECD-DAC disability policy marker to indicate what level of disability-inclusive activities take place with each bilateral official development assistance (ODA) programme. A score of 1 indicates that at least some deliberate disability-inclusive activity is undertaken but disability inclusion is not the main purpose of the programme. A score of 2 indicates that addressing disability inclusion is the primary purpose of the programme.
The table below gives ODA spending and project numbers for DFID and FCO (from 2018 to 2020) and FCDO (2021 onwards). The counts in columns (b) and (e) are for individual projects as reported to the OECD-DAC.
Columns (a), (b) and (c) provides the amount of ODA disbursed and details of projects that scored 2 for the marker.
Column (e) and (f) provides the details on the number of ODA projects that scored 1 for the marker.
Column (d) provides the total amount of ODA disbursed in projects that scored 1 for the marker. No information is collected centrally on the amount of ODA that is disbursed solely for disability inclusive activities in projects scoring 1.
Bilateral ODA projects1 with a DAC disability policy marker = 2 | Bilateral ODA projects1 with a DAC disability policy marker = 1 | |||||
Department | Amount of spending (£ millions) (a) | Number of projects (b) | Proportion of all bilateral projects (c) | Amount of spending (£ millions)2 (d) | Number of projects (e) | Proportion of all bilateral projects (f) |
2018 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 6.7 | 12 | 0.5% | 2,304,139 | 874 | 34.2% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Total | 6.7 | 12 | 0.4% | 2,304,139 | 874 | 26.9% |
2019 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 19.6 | 20 | 0.8% | 2,751,165 | 881 | 35.9% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Total | 19.6 | 20 | 0.7% | 2,751,165 | 881 | 29.6% |
2020 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 22.4 | 17 | 0.7% | 2,366,991 | 838 | 36.1% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 42,438 | 124 | N/A |
Total | 22.4 | 17 | 0.6% | 2,409,429 | 962 | 32.8% |
2021 | ||||||
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office | 16.2 | 15 | 0.5% | 1,527,057 | 967 | 32.2% |
20223 | ||||||
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office | 19.0 | 16 | 0.7% | 1,527,146 | 837 | 35.4% |
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, with reference to the oral evidence by Fawzia Koofi to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 17 October 2023, Q3, HC 1888 of Session 2022-23, what monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure that UK aid (a) is prevented from benefitting the Taliban and (b) reaches the people for whom it is intended.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
UK funding is provided directly to implementing partners: UN organisations, the Red Cross, and national and international non-governmental organisations. We do not provide any aid to or through the Taliban. UK aid is subject to strict monitoring and verification to ensure it reaches intended beneficiaries. Our partners are experienced in delivering in difficult circumstances and we work closely together to mitigate risks. We remain committed to ensuring that at least 50 per cent of people reached with UK aid in Afghanistan are women and girls. We achieved this in 2021-2022 and are on track to do so in 2022-2023.
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, with reference to the oral evidence by Fawzia Koofi to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 17 October 2023, Q3, HC 1888 of Session 2022-23, how much UK aid has been allocated to women-led organisations based in Afghanistan in each of the last two financial years for which information is available; and if he will take steps to ensure that the procedures for applying for UK aid are simplified for women-led organisations based in Afghanistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Afghanistan is one of FCDO's largest bilateral aid programmes this financial year, with a planned £100 million budget. Since April 2021, the UK has disbursed over £600 million in aid for Afghanistan. We remain committed to ensuring that at least 50 per cent of people reached are women and girls. We achieved this in 2021-2022 and are on track to do so in 2022-2023. Through the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund, our support contributes to a $20 million project to support civil society and NGOs with a focus on women-led organisations. FCDO officials regularly engage with Afghan women and women's groups to ensure that we are aligned in the design and delivery of our programmes.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the ban on American Bully XL dogs on the dog rehoming sector.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has worked closely with stakeholders including rescue and rehoming centres to consider the impacts of banning XL Bully dogs. The activity of rehoming an XL Bully will be prohibited after 31 December 2023, in accordance with the range of restrictions required under Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraph 12.1 of the explanatory memorandum to The Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (England and Wales) Order 2023, how her Department estimated the cost to businesses, charities and voluntary bodies of those regulations.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The cost estimates referred to in the Explanatory Memorandum to The Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (England and Wales) Order 2023 were developed using evidence and data collated from a range of sources including animal welfare charities, and other key 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 steps his Department is taking to (a) reach older people with targeted humanitarian and social protection support and (b) ensure data on humanitarian and social protection is (i) age-disaggregated and (ii) inclusive of older people.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK works to ensure that all humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable, including those who are vulnerable because of their age. FCDO works with governments and partners to strengthen and expand inclusive social protection systems to reach more vulnerable people, including older people.
The FCDO is signed up to and provides a leading role as a co-facilitator of the Inclusive Data Charter which commits the FCDO to collecting data disaggregated by gender, disability, age and geography where possible. We currently do not have comprehensive age disaggregated data at an aggregate level but continue to work with partners to collect more disaggregated data, including on age, in a standardised way.