Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to establish a partnership with Rotary International on the joint goal of eradicating polio.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Thanks to the joint efforts of Rotary International and the UK Government, we have made major strides in defeating the polio virus. The UK Government appreciates the tireless campaigning and generous fundraising achieved by Rotarians on behalf of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which has vaccinated millions against polio in the world's poorest countries.
Alongside Rotary, the UK Government has also supported GPEI since 1995 as the second largest sovereign donor. Through our joint commitment and strong advocacy, more than 18 million people are able to walk today who would have otherwise been paralysed by the virus. This decades-long partnership between Rotary International and the UK Government has eliminated the wild polio virus from Africa. We will continue our advocacy together, from the global to the grassroots level, until the wild polio virus is eliminated worldwide.
Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding is available for Rotary Great Britain and Ireland and other UK-based voluntary groups to support their work in eradicating polio.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland is supported by contributions from the public. These contributions are transformed into service projects and grants that support polio eradication. The UK Government does not fund Rotary directly, though we work closely together as joint donors and partners in ridding the world of the polio virus through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office provides support to UK charities making a difference through grants, and our flagship volunteer scheme. The Small Charities Challenge Fund provides grants to UK charities addressing Global Goals. The Volunteering for Development programme, delivered in partnership with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), supports volunteers to make an impact in the world's poorest communities.
Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to facilitate the safe return of UK Nationals on the Coral Princess during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, we have worked hard to support British nationals aboard cruise ships. Over 350 British passengers and crew members aboard the Coral Princess returned to the UK on three separate charter flights - two flights on 6 April and one on the 9 April - organised by the cruise company, and British Airways. The FCO worked closely with the cruise company and partners across Whitehall, including the Department for Transport, Public Health England, the Department for Health and Social Care and Border Force to ensure British nationals were safely repatriated to the UK.
Upon their return, the cruise company organised private transport for those who did not have family members to collect them, and they were also advised to self-isolate for 14 days in line with advice from the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England.
Of the four remaining British passengers who were not fit to travel on the repatriation flights, one has was discharged from hospital on 15 April and will shortly be repatriated to the UK. Three remain in hospital in Miami and are receiving consular support from the British Consulate General.
Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British nationals aged between 13 and 25 died in (a) Spain and (b) the rest of the world in each of the last five years.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The FCO does not hold a complete record of information requested as it is not obligatory for states to inform us of the deaths of British Nationals in their territory, nor do we record the details of British nationals overseas who do not require assistance.