Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Halo Trust is working on behalf of the Government in carrying out its de-mining work in Colombia; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Rory Stewart
DFID supports HALO Trust’s programmes in Burma, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Cambodia, Somalia and Afghanistan. We do not currently work with HALO in Colombia. In 2016, DFID’s programmes cleared mines and other explosive remnants of war from over 2,000 hectares of land, which were returned back to productive use, saving lives and supporting livelihoods.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the government of Nepal on the introduction of import duty on materials sent in response to the earthquake appeal in that country; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
We are very concerned about the resumption of import duties on humanitarian relief items in Nepal, which risks impeding the delivery of urgent assistance to highly vulnerable communities. UK officials have been in discussions with the Government of Nepal, lobbying the Chief Secretary and counterparts in the Ministry of Finance for the reintroduction of a customs waiver and are supporting the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in his lobbying efforts. European Ambassadors, including the UK, will be meeting with senior Nepali Ministers this week to request changes to customs regulations while the need for humanitarian supplies remains.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what reports she has received on the effects of the introduction of import duty by the government of Nepal on shipments of aid sent in response to the earthquake appeal; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
We are very concerned about the resumption of import duties on humanitarian relief items in Nepal, which risks impeding the delivery of urgent assistance to highly vulnerable communities. UK officials have been actively lobbying the Government of Nepal for the reintroduction of a customs waiver and are supporting the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in his lobbying efforts. European Ambassadors, including the UK, will be meeting with senior Nepali Ministers this week to request changes to customs regulations while the need for humanitarian supplies remains.