Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that the most vulnerable LGBTI+ people in developing countries (a) have fair and equal access and (b) receive non-discriminatory treatment in clinics and other healthcare settings in relation to (i) covid-19, (ii) hormone, (ii) antiretroviral, (iii) PrEP, (iv) PEP and (v) condom provision during the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The UK Government works to ensure that all aid reaches the most vulnerable including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Vulnerable populations will experience COVID 19 outbreaks differently. COVID 19 is likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society, their experience of discrimination, violence and stigma, and further limit their access to essential support and services. For this reason, on 9 April, further guidance was circulated across DFID highlighting that inclusion must be central to our response to COVID 19 and the specific contexts and needs of vulnerable people such as LGBT people should be taken into account when developing practical programmes to tackle COVID 19.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that support for LGBT+ initiatives are adequately resourced during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Working on LGBT rights is essential to meet DFID’s vision of a world where no one is left behind. This is central to the Global Goals and a secure and prosperous world. Organisations implementing LGBT initiatives are facing significant challenges as a result of COVID-19. DFID supports many programmes on access to services for all, including vulnerable and persecuted minorities, promotion and protection of rights and tackling stigma and discrimination. These programmes include initiatives on LGBT inclusion. DFID is in discussion with partners to find flexible solutions to ensure they can use the resources allocated to implement these programmes effectively.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2018 to Question 167103 on Palestinians: ICT, what plans she has to promote the development of Palestinian IT firms and strengthen their capability to work with British businesses after the Palestinian Market Development Programme ceases in October 2019.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The programme support provided to Palestinian IT firms from the Palestinian Market Development Programme (PMDP) will cease in October 2018. The Department for International Development (DFID) has recently announced a new £38 million economic development programme for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Part of this new programme will continue to provide support to Palestinian IT firms to connect with British businesses, for the twelve months following the completion of the PMDP. Following this, DFID will review if further support to the Palestinian IT sector is warranted and if the UK is best placed to support it.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to (a) assist the development of the IT sector in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and (b) foster links between UK and Palestinian companies.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Department for International Development funds the Palestinian Market Development Programme (PMDP) which is currently supporting 18 Palestinian IT firms to strengthen their capability to work with British businesses. As part of this assistance PMDP is also working closely with the Portland Trust, the Palestinian Information Technology Association, the Palestinian Business Council and the Palestinian UK Country Trade Representative to develop business links between these firms and British businesses.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that the World Bank's environmental and social safeguard policies take account of the rights and needs of (a) LGBT people and (b) other vulnerable groups.
Answered by Justine Greening
The Government attaches considerable importance to the current review of the World Bank’s Safeguards Framework. We have been strongly engaged throughout both with UK civil society organisations and the World Bank, most recently at UK consultation meetings on 19-20 January. At these, discussions with the Bank included a specific focus on how the safeguards will ensure proper consideration and risk management for vulnerable or disadvantaged groups such as women, the disabled and LGBT people. The Government will continue to raise these points as the review progresses.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which civil society organisations her Department supports in Uganda; and what policy each such organisation has towards the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Answered by Baroness Featherstone
The UK funds a number of civil society organisations in Uganda, including around 70 through the multi-donor Democratic Governance Facility. DFID has assessed our programme to ensure that UK aid could continue to be spent effectively and with maximum impact, and to ensure it was not being provided to organisations that proactively and publically promoted the Act. Following this, the UK and other donors agreed to indefinitely suspend funding through the Democratic Governance Facility to one organisation. We will continue to monitor this situation. The UK strongly opposes discrimination on any grounds.