Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what political representations UK officials have made to the Afghan government with respect to the Afghan Minerals Law and amendments currently being considered by the Afghan government; and whether UK officials have provided technical assistance in the preparation of those amendments.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
The British Embassy regularly consults the National Unity Government on improving the Minerals Law to encourage responsible investment into the extractives sector. The UK proposed revisions to the Minerals Law in a review commissioned by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum and provided support for the incorporation of recommendations by transparency organisations and donor partners into amendments.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government has made plans to provide humanitarian relief in the event that the Syrian government blockade Aleppo.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
At the “Supporting Syria and the Region London 2016” Conference we co-hosted on 4th February 2016, leaders came together to pledge more than $11 billion, the largest amount raised in one day for a humanitarian crisis. Commitments made at the Conference will help to create 1.1 million jobs and provide education to an additional 1 million children. This money will save lives, give hope and give people a chance for the future. The Conference also brought leaders together to praise the bravery of all those working inside Syria to protect innocent civilians, demand an end to these abuses and obstruction of humanitarian aid. The outcomes of the conference are reflected in the Co-hosts' statement available on the Conference website www.supportingsyria2016.com.
We are deeply concerned by the humanitarian impact of the ongoing Syrian regime offensive on Aleppo, which is backed by Russian airstrikes; including the high level of displacement it is causing.
DFID continues to use existing funding to support our partners to be flexible in their responses and to enable the realignment of programming to meet those newly displaced and most in need. We are working with our partners in Aleppo and Idlib governorates to increase their existing food distribution and primary health assistance to support the newly displaced. We also support the UN OCHA managed, Humanitarian Pooled Fund (HPF), which has announced a US$10.5 million emergency fund to meet the needs of the new displaced as a result of the fighting in northern Aleppo. The HPF funding will focus on meeting key health, WASH, food, shelter and protection needs.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will seek to use her Department's influence on countries hosting Syrian refugees in the region surrounding that country to allow non-government organisations to provide non-formal education opportunities for such refugees.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
At the Conference on Supporting Syria and the Region being held in London on 4th February, we want the international community to agree a new goal that all Syrian refugee children and affected host country children are in education – formal school or non-formal – by the end of 2016/17. Equally, for inside Syria, it is our aim to increase access to good quality schooling or other learning opportunities such as self-learning and non-formal education. In neighbouring countries we will also increase access to vocational or skills training and higher education for children and youth.
At the Conference our ambition is that international donors, governments from countries in the region hosting refugees, non-governmental organisations and the private sector come together to agree a set of reciprocal financial and policy commitments. The UK and co-hosts are working with donors and other partners to secure increased funding for education under the UN-led appeals for 2016 and longer term, multi-year education funding commitments to ensure sustainability. We are also working with refugee hosting governments in particular to agree the policy commitments necessary to turn increased funding into delivery on the ground.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that all financial investment pledged for equal access to quality education at the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference will be backed by the necessary political will and policy changes.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
At the Conference on Supporting Syria and the Region being held in London on 4th February, we want the international community to agree a new goal that all Syrian refugee children and affected host country children are in education – formal school or non-formal – by the end of 2016/17. Equally, for inside Syria, it is our aim to increase access to good quality schooling or other learning opportunities such as self-learning and non-formal education. In neighbouring countries we will also increase access to vocational or skills training and higher education for children and youth.
At the Conference our ambition is that international donors, governments from countries in the region hosting refugees, non-governmental organisations and the private sector come together to agree a set of reciprocal financial and policy commitments. The UK and co-hosts are working with donors and other partners to secure increased funding for education under the UN-led appeals for 2016 and longer term, multi-year education funding commitments to ensure sustainability. We are also working with refugee hosting governments in particular to agree the policy commitments necessary to turn increased funding into delivery on the ground.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what outcomes her Department is aiming to achieve at the Supporting Syria and the Refugee Conference in February 2016.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided on 29 January to Question number 23764.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support the Syrian people in establishing a framework for post-conflict reconstruction.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
The UK has been at the forefront of the response to the crisis in Syria and the region. We have pledged over £1.1 billion to date, our largest ever response to a single humanitarian crisis. We are the second largest bilateral donor after the US.
In addition to humanitarian support, the Department for International Development is working closely with the Syrian National Coalition, NGOs, civil society, and human rights activists to strengthen the ability of the moderate opposition to provide governance and services inside Syria in a way that will help prepare the ground for post-conflict reconstruction. The UK is also helping the National Coalition to build its capacity as an institution, to meet the needs of Syrians and to represent their interests.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to encourage the government of Nepal to extend the waiver on custom duties on life-saving humanitarian items.
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, met with senior Nepali Ministers last week to request changes to customs regulations while the need for humanitarian supplies remains.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to encourage the international community to (a) increase contributions to Nepal urgently and (b) ensure full funding of the Flash appeal.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
Prior to the earthquake the UK was already the largest bilateral donor to Nepal. The UK is providing more than £33 million to the earthquake response in Nepal. DFID officials will attend the upcoming international conference in Kathmandu on 25 June and use that forum to encourage other donors to increase their engagement and provide much needed funds for both the urgent post-earthquake needs and for the longer term reconstruction efforts. The UK has made available approximately £5 million to the UN Flash Appeal and is supporting the UN in its efforts to secure further funding.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure long-term support is provided to Nepal to help repair infrastructure and rebuild homes, schools and hospitals.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
The UK has a longstanding friendship with Nepal, prior to the earthquake, the UK was already the largest bilateral donor in Nepal and we are committed to maintaining our support. As the emergency response shifts towards longer term recovery, we will develop new initiatives and adapt some of our existing programmes to provide appropriate support to earthquake-affected areas.
There will be an international conference in Kathmandu on 25 June at which the Government of Nepal will present its plans for post-earthquake reconstruction. This conference will help the UK and other donors to plan and coordinate assistance programmes over the medium to longer term. Ensuring that local communities are less vulnerable to earthquakes in the future is a huge challenge but it will remain an important part of our future work.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to establish temporary learning centres and to develop earthquake-resilient school structures in Nepal.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
Over the past few years, the UK has played a leading role in improving the construction standards of schools in Nepal so that they are more resilient to earthquakes. We have retro-fitted or reconstructed around 200 school buildings and renovated a further 35. This was part of larger programmes and plans, with FCO, MOD and other donors, to help the Government of Nepal and local communities to prepare for an earthquake.
The UK is providing more than £33million to the earthquake response in Nepal, making us the largest donor to the relief operation.
There will be an international conference in Kathmandu on 25 June at which the Government of Nepal will present its plans for post-earthquake reconstruction. This conference will help the UK and other donors to plan and coordinate assistance programmes over the medium to longer term. Ensuring that local communities are less vulnerable to earthquakes is a huge, long-term challenge but the recent earthquake has demonstrated that it will be an important part of our future work.