Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North and Kimberley)
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 ensure migrants on the Poland-Belarus border are able to access humanitarian assistance.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Foreign Secretary wrote on 14 November [https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/we-must-stand-together-for-freedom-and-democracy], the situation at the Polish border marks the latest step by the Lukashenko regime to undermine regional security. He is using desperate migrants as pawns in his bid to create instability and to cling on to power regardless of the human cost. We have made clear to the Belarusian authorities, including through their Ambassador to the UK, that this harmful, aggressive and exploitative behaviour must stop.
The UK is supporting its humanitarian partners to help alleviate the suffering of migrants at the border, including through our contributions to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund, organised by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and through our political advocacy. As President of the G7, the UK led on an 18 November Foreign Ministers statement, which called on the Belarusian regime to provide international organisations with immediate and unhindered access to deliver humanitarian assistance. We were also pleased to send a small team of personnel to Poland to provide engineering support to ease pressure at the border. The Foreign Secretary discussed the situation with her Polish counterpart on 16 November, reiterating the UK's support and solidarity with Poland.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North and Kimberley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what aid has been given by the UK to The Gambia in the financial year 2020-21.
Answered by James Duddridge
The FCDO provided a total of £1.35 million in ODA to The Gambia in the financial year 2020-21. This included funding from both DFID and the FCO before the creation of the FCDO.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North and Kimberley)
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 access to aid spending for UK charities working in The Gambia.
Answered by James Duddridge
The FCDO works with a wide range of partners to deliver our development assistance. As new programmes open, delivery partners can bid for new funding through open competition.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North and Kimberley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of supporting India with the establishment of covid-19 field hospitals.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Government of India has informed us that government to government donations to support their response to the pandemic are no longer being sought. The Government of India is no longer setting up COVID-19 field hospitals and has not requested support from the UK Government.
The UK was the first country to deliver life-saving medical support to India to help fight COVID-19. We put together a package focusing on India's most urgent needs, including oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and oxygen generating units. The latest shipment was delivered on 9 May, which brought the total package of equipment to 495 oxygen concentrators, 1,200 ventilators and three oxygen generating units.
There is also significant scientific and medical collaboration underway between the UK and India. Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance have regularly spoken to their Indian counterparts to exchange advice, insight and expertise. NHS England and NHS Improvement established a Clinical Advisory Group, led by Chief People Officer Prerana Issar, to support India's COVID-19 response.
UK-India collaboration is benefitting both countries and the world. We will continue to work closely with the Government of India during this difficult time, as well as the wider international community in the global fight against the pandemic.