Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the 2013 meeting convened by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute in co-operation with the Vienna International Justice Institute and the International Coloured Gemstone Association, what steps the Government is taking to promote the establishment of a mechanism for the traceability and certification of ethical origin of coloured gemstones; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Government is supporting international efforts to promote ethical sourcing of minerals. We contributed to the development of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict Affected and High Risk Areas. We are a founding member of the European Partnership for Responsible Minerals, which works with industry and civil society to share best practice on mineral traceability and certification schemes. We are also working to improve the livelihoods of artisanal miners in Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of offering assistance to conservation organisations in Madagascar for the protection of the environment from the effect of unregulated sapphire mining; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The Government believes that environmental protection and regulation of extractive industries are vital for sustainable development. Madagascar receives assistance through a number of global programmes. These include the Global Environment Facility, which has numerous projects in Madagascar. In addition, we are contributing to improved governance of Madagascan mining through our support to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which five companies were used most often to provide temporary workers for her Department in the last financial year; and how much in agency fees was paid to each of them.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The list below details the five companies used most often to provide temporary workers for DFID in financial year 2013/4:
1. Hays Specialist Recruitment Ltd
2. Hudson Global Resources Ltd
3. Anderson Knight Ltd
4. Allegis Group Ltd
5. Michael Page International
It is not possible to disaggregate agency fees from the total payments made to these companies for the services of temporary staff.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which 10 consultancy firms were paid the most by her Department in the last financial year; and how much each of those firms was paid.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The 10 consultancy firms paid the most by the Department for International Development in the last financial year, and how much each was paid; is detailed in the table below.
Company | Amount (£) | ||
Computer Futures | 79,334 | ||
Mark McGivern | 27,188 | ||
Unit 4 | 14,806 | ||
Kilcher Consultancy Limited | 14,642 | ||
Tam O'Neil | 10,000 | ||
Naina Patel | 7,194 | ||
Network of International Consultants in Health and Development | 6,358 | ||
Social Development Direct Ltd | 6,048 | ||
| 3,643 | ||
Zodiak Broadcasting Station | 3,480 |