Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of UNRWA funding as a result of the decision by the US Government to reduce its funding to that agency.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Following US cuts in 2018, the international community was able to step up and meet the shortfall, allowing UNRWA to continue to provide essential basic services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. However, we recognise that these refugee populations need UNRWA be on a more secure financial footing. To that end, the UK is working with UNRWA and other donors to ensure its sustainability. This includes finding further cost savings reforms, diversifying donor income, and encouraging multi-year funding commitments. The UK is a leading donor to UNRWA and I am proud to confirm that we plan to provide up to £80m to UNRWA over the next two years.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, What proportion of Government aid for the Kashmir region is directed through the Government of Pakistan.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Pakistan administered Kashmir benefits from national programmes in Pakistan to promote economic growth and improve education and health services. For example, 1.86% of the Government of Pakistan’s Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) beneficiaries are in Pakistan administered Kashmir (approximately 100,000 out of 5.2 million beneficiaries). DFID’s support to BISP focuses on system strengthening and cash transfers.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department has allocated to the Kashmir Region in the last five years.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Pakistan administered Kashmir benefits from national programmes in Pakistan to promote economic growth and improve education and health services. DFID does not routinely measure total expenditure directed to sub-national geographies outside our focal states or provinces.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government takes to ensure that aid for Kashmir reached that region.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Pakistan administered Kashmir benefits from national programmes in Pakistan to promote economic growth and improve education and health services. Although DFID does not routinely measure expenditure directed to sub-national geographies we are able to track aid in Kashmir through periodic visits.
Our national programmes are monitored quarterly and annually to ensure funds are spent appropriately.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of Government aid for the Kashmir region is directed through the Government of India.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID does not provide any aid to India-administered Kashmir through the Government of India.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what projects the Government funds related to Kashmir.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Pakistan administered Kashmir benefits from national programmes in Pakistan to promote economic growth and improve education and health services. DFID may also respond to government requests for humanitarian assistance in India and Pakistan administered Kashmir, including through DFID funded UN agencies.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department is providing official development assistant to the Government of Lebanon to help with Palestinian refugees.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK is not providing the Government of Lebanon with direct support to help with Palestinian refugees. However, the UK is a long-term supporter of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) which has a unique role to protect and provide essential services to over 5 million Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. In the current financial year, we will provide £38 million towards UNRWA’s Programme Budget, which will enable UNRWA to support Palestinian refugees across the region, including in Lebanon.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support the Government is providing to Palestinian refugees from Syria living in Jordan.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK contributed £600,000 to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) 2017 Syria Emergency Appeal for Palestinian refugees from Syria in Jordan. Under the same grant, the UK also provided UNRWA with £1million of funding for their 2016 appeal in Jordan. UK funds have contributed to teacher salaries at UNRWA-run schools and have also been used to provide cash assistance for Palestinian refugees from Syria, that meet strict vulnerability criteria. Additionally, the UK provides significant support to Jordan to improve education access and quality and create economic opportunities, which will benefit people throughout Jordan, including Palestinians.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support the Government is providing to Palestinian refugees from Gaza living in Jordon.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK is a long-term supporter of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) which has a unique role to protect and provide essential services to over 5 million Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. In financial year 2017/18 we will be provide £38 million towards UNRWA’s Programme Budget which will enable UNRWA to support Palestinian refugees across the region, including those from Gaza living in Jordan. Additionally, the UK provides significant support to Jordan to improve education access and quality and create economic opportunities, which will benefit people throughout Jordan, including Palestinians.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department provides support to the Government of Jordan to help with Palestinian refugees to that country.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK is not providing the Government of Jordan with direct support to help with Palestinian refugees. However, the UK is a long-term supporter of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which has a unique role to protect and provide essential services to over 5 million Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. In the current financial year, we will provide £38 million towards UNRWA’s Programme Budget, which will enable UNRWA to support Palestinian refugees across the region, including in Jordan. Additionally, the UK provides significant support to Jordan to improve education access and quality and create economic opportunities, which will benefit people throughout Jordan, including Palestinians.