Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff in her Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Adams
Approximately 98% of DFID UK based staff are working from home.
In line with UK Government guidelines, both UK headquarter buildings have been closed, with only essential staff working in the premises. All staff based in the UK have the ability to work remotely.
Our overseas office situation varies across the countries we have a presence in, and we work in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to adopt working from home arrangements on a case by case basis. The vast majority of DFID staff in overseas locations have the ability to work remotely and have been instructed to do so, in line with UK Government advice.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her Department's policy to provide direct funding to ensure the clearing of UK-produced cluster munitions.
Answered by Rory Stewart
DFID funds clearance of cluster munitions, landmines and other explosive remnants of war irrespective of their origin through its Global Mine Action Programme, through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, and through the DFID Afghanistan programme. The Global Mine Action Programme has delivered 2,086ha of land back to productive use, saving lives and supporting livelihoods.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of direct aid for Yemen committed in the current financial year has been used to help with the clearing of UK-produced cluster munitions.
Answered by Rory Stewart
DFID is contributing £112 million to the crisis in Yemen this financial year, none of which is used to help with the clearing of cluster munitions. The majority of this funding is used to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance, such as food, clean water, medical supplies and emergency shelter.
Through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, the UK is contributing £700,000 for 2016/17 to support the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to clear mines and explosives in Yemen, including cluster munitions.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has had discussions with (a) the Yemen Executive Mine Action Centre and (b) other national de-mining institutions in Yemen on the provision of funding for clearing UK-produced cluster munitions; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Department for International Development (DFID) has not had discussions with any national de-mining institutions in Yemen. However, through the cross-government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), the UK is supporting the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to work with both the Yemen Executive Mine Action Centre (YEMAC) and the National Mine Action Commission (NMAC) to clear mines and explosives in Yemen, including cluster munitions.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many people participated in the International Citizens Services from (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency and (b) Scotland in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The International Citizen Service (ICS) aims to be representative of young people in Britain, both in terms of diversity and reaching all regions of the country.
Table 1 shows how many participants there were from Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency. One additional volunteer has been selected to take part in 2017.
Table 1 | |
Year | Number of participants |
2012 | 0 |
2013 | 3 |
2014 | 2 |
2015 | 3 |
2016 | 3 |
Total | 11 |
Table 2 provides a breakdown of participants from Scotland.
Table 2 | |
Year | Number of participants |
2012 | 24 |
2013 | 110 |
2014 | 201 |
2015 | 265 |
2016 | 224 |
Total | 824 |
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to tackle food insecurity in Malawi.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
Malawi is facing its worst food crises since independence. The UK’s commitment to Malawi will help feed and sustain over a quarter of a million vulnerable people and treat 150,000 children and vulnerable adults suffering from malnutrition. We are preparing further support to prevent cholera and other waterborne diseases. We are urging our international partners to further scale-up their response now, as we continue to work with the Government of Malawi at the policy level to break the cycle of recurring humanitarian crises.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has programmes to facilitate access to the internet in Malawi.
Answered by Nick Hurd
DFID’s Digital Strategy aims to ensure that digital processes pervade all of DFID’s work, from communications to policy making and programmes. We want to ensure the poorest and most marginalised people in developing countries benefit from the added value digital can bring, including by giving citizens access to information and services quickly and affordably.
DFID does not currently directly support programmes to facilitate access to the internet in Malawi. DFID is currently developing programme plans for 2016-21 and is exploring how to support an increased uptake of Information and Communications Technology in Malawi. This will include consideration of whether and how DFID can support an increased uptake of internet-based services as well as an increase in awareness of the potential of internet and digital marketing tools for businesses.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2016 to Question 20675, how much of the £300 million provided to eradicate polio was spent in each of the last three years; and how much will be spent in each of the next four years.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The UK is a top three donor to polio eradication, with a £300 million commitment over six years from 2013/14 to 2018/19. Of this, £100 million was disbursed in the financial year of 2013/2014, £50 million in 2014/15, and £65 million in 2015/16. The UK will provide £39 million in 2016/17, £29 million in 2017/18 and £17 million in 2018/19.
UK support has been critical in bringing us one step closer to the finish line of a world free from polio, something people across the country can be immensely proud of.