Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, to what extent her Department takes into account the concept of human development when assessing development projects for funding through UKAID.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The 2016 Bilateral Development Review outlined the importance of investing in people as the fundamental building block for delivery of all UK aid objectives. Delivery of human development outcomes is contributing to each of the four strategic objectives set out in the Review. In allocating aid, the fit with these strategic objectives is carefully considered.
The Bilateral Development Review includes commitments on health, education, nutrition, water and sanitation and family planning. Through strengthening global health security and helping everyone to achieve their potential, UK aid investments in human development are designed to contribute to ending extreme poverty, promoting global prosperity and strengthening global security and resilience.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the Government's ability to support the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The UK Government published a report on 28 March underlining its commitment to work with the international community to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals and the significant contribution the UK is making to each of the goals.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will publish (a) her Department's spend in (i) Guatemala and (ii) El Salvador and (b) the projects that have been delivered in those countries to improve access to reproductive health care.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
UK ODA spend is published in Statistics for International Development (SID). DFID has spent no bilateral aid in Guatemala or El Salvador since 2010/11. In 2013-2015 some UK ODA was spent in these countries by departments other than DFID.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, to what extent her Department applies the principles of gender budgeting when assessing projects through UKAID.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The Gender Equality Act (2014) makes it a legal requirement to consider gender equality in all development and humanitarian assistance. DFID tracks spend on gender equality through the use of an internal gender marker.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and women's empowerment.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment is a top priority for DFID.
The Department supports the achievement of Goal 5 by; improving global level policies and performance on gender equality – the UN High Level Panel’s Report on Women’s Economic Empowerment is a prime example; by supporting better outcomes for girls and women at a country level through DFID’s bilateral programmes; and by demonstrating best practice in spend and policy across the Department on gender equality, including in implementing the Gender Equality Act.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps her Department has taken to encourage the Governments of El Salvador and Guatemala to increase women's access to reproductive health care.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The UK Government frequently raises our concerns about the strict anti-abortion laws in El Salvador and how these affect the lives and reproductive rights of women and girls. In Guatemala, the UK is supportive of the prevention of violence against women and girls and their right to make choices about their reproductive lives.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to improve working conditions in developing countries.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
We are improving working conditions through our country programmes and through global standards. For example, in Bangladesh, we are providing over £7 million to improve working conditions and safety in 1,800 factories, and we support labour practices globally through the ethical trading initiative.