Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the Occuptied Palestinian Territories of the decision of the House of Representatives to end foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are working closely with the United States (US) to understand the impact of the Taylor Force Act on their programme and the implications for other donors, were it to be approved by the US Senate.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans the Government has to demonstrate progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the next 12 months.
Answered by Rory Stewart
Following the publication of the Government’s report on how it is delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in March, it is now embedding the SDGs in Single Departmental Plans. Over the next few months, these will be updated to reflect the Government’s new priorities. A public version will be published on GOV.UK and Departments’ contributions to the delivery of the SDGs will be reported publicly in their Annual Report and Accounts.The Government will announce in due course when it will showcase its work by presenting a Voluntary National Review at the United Nations.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to include best practice bio security and waste management requirement clauses in the next contract for the Pitcairn Islands supply ship.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
The tender for the Pitcairn Islands supply ship is currently underway and best practice bio security and waste management requirement clauses will be included in the agreed contract.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the potential use and effectiveness of unmanned aerial vehicle technology in supporting the UK's international development agenda.
Answered by Nick Hurd
It is in the interest of the UK taxpayer, as well as beneficiaries on the ground, that the Department for International Development scrutinises the most cost-effective means of delivering aid, especially when responding to crises. In some cases technology can provide valuable advantages in terms of efficiency and cost effectiveness, as well as enabling the ability to respond rapidly to crises and assist those in the hardest to reach places.
The Department has recently commissioned a review of the potential of a number of Frontier Technologies including Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology, which will help us identify potential applications as well as risks.
There are a small number of examples of UAV technologies currently being trialled in DFID programmes. This includes a small-scale trial of UAV mapping to inform disaster preparedness, mitigation and response efforts in Nepal. There is also research being conducted in the natural and physical sciences arena, including on climate extremes which have an impact on vulnerable populations in developing countries.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department is carrying out trials to assess the suitability of unmanned aerial vehicle technology as part of the UK's humanitarian disaster response capability.
Answered by Nick Hurd
It is in the interest of the UK taxpayer, as well as beneficiaries on the ground, that the Department for International Development scrutinises the most cost-effective means of delivering aid, especially when responding to crises. In some cases technology can provide valuable advantages in terms of efficiency and cost effectiveness, as well as enabling the ability to respond rapidly to crises and assist those in the hardest to reach places.
The Department has recently commissioned a review of the potential of a number of Frontier Technologies including Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology, which will help us identify potential applications as well as risks.
There are a small number of examples of UAV technologies currently being trialled in DFID programmes. This includes a small-scale trial of UAV mapping to inform disaster preparedness, mitigation and response efforts in Nepal. There is also research being conducted in the natural and physical sciences arena, including on climate extremes which have an impact on vulnerable populations in developing countries.