Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if her Department will take steps to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians displaced by the expected demolition of Khan Al Ahmar in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The UK provides emergency response to communities facing demolition and displacement in Area C and East Jerusalem through core funding to the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, who aid partner reference GB-1-205059 is whom her Department funds to provide food and winter items in Syria.
Answered by Rory Stewart
In 2016/17 DFID is funding 17 organisations delivering life-saving humanitarian support in Syria. These include UN agencies, international non-governmental organisations and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. We have agreed with the specified partner not to disclose publicly their identity because doing so could put their staff at risk.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2016 to Question 32928, what issues of prisoner payments were raised with the Palestinian Authority Finance Minister Bishara in September 2015; which prisoners were discussed with that Minister; and what representations she has received on reported payments made to Kifah and Ibrahim Ghanimat.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
No UK aid is used for payments to Palestinian prisoners, or their families. UK direct financial assistance to the PA is used to pay the salaries of civil servant and pensioners. I discussed with Minister Bishara a broad range of issues regarding prisoner payments including their administration by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation. The UK continues to lobby for the payments to be more transparent, affordable and needs-based.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she has made representations to the Palestinian Authority on reported payments by that authority to Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
UK officials meet regularly with the Ministry of Finance and consistently lobby it at the highest levels on whether prisoner payments can be made more transparent and affordable. I raised the issue of prisoner payments in September 2015 with the Palestinian Authority Finance Minister Bishara.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what total amount her Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) the Government Car and Despatch Agency and (b) other car hire in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
For information on the cost of car travel for the Department of International I refer the hon. Member to the Department for Transport's written ministerial statements of 22 July 2008, Official Report, column 117WS; 16 July 2009, Official Report, column 80WS; and 28 October 2010, Official Report, column 23WS.
DFID is unable to provide details of ministerial spend on private hire vehicles and taxis without incurring disproportionate cost.