Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, who is responsible for digitisation in his Department; and what mechanisms the person with responsibility for digitisation uses to champion digitisation.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
DFID’s Digital Strategy 2018 to 2020 sets out a vision and approach for doing development in a digital world. Its aim is to establish DFID as a global leader in digital technology and development, in order to have a bigger, faster and more cost-effective impact on the lives of poor people.
Responsibility for delivering on the digital strategy is shared across different business units in DFID, including the Head of Emerging Policy, Innovation and Capability, the Chief Information Officer, the Head of Better Delivery Department and the Chief Statistician, co-ordinating through the Digital Data and Technology Steering Group.
A Digital Data and Technology Delivery Board chaired by the Permanent Secretary provides strategic oversight and guidance.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 1 June to 31 August 2019.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The DFID Chief Scientific Adviser met with the current and previous Secretary of State once each during this period.
The Chief Scientific Adviser continues to provide all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on DFID science and research activities.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to support developing countries' national plans to deliver universal health coverage.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The UK Government provides funding to the World Health Organisation through the universal health coverage (UHC) partnership programme, along with the EU, Japan and other donors. This supports the development of UHC country plans to help countries to prioritise their own pathway to achieve UHC. Over 60 countries have now developed these plans and we are advocating use of the plans to drive greater coordination of efforts from other multilaterals.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether his Department has plans to encourage governments of developing countries to invest five per cent of GDP in primary healthcare.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The UK is a global champion for Universal Health Coverage; one of the key ways to deliver the health-related SDGs and climate resilient, sustainable development more broadly. At the UN High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage this September, the UK will be a strong advocate for increased domestic resources for primary health care and prevention and is pushing for positive commitments in this regard.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many meetings he held with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 March 2019 and 31 May 2019.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The DFID Chief Scientific Adviser met with the Secretary of State once during this period.
The Chief Scientific Adviser continues to provide all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on DFID science and research activities.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many meetings she held with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The DFID Chief Scientific Adviser has not met with the Secretary of State during this three month period but did meet once with me.
The Chief Scientific Adviser continues to provide all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on DFID science and research activities.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many meetings she had with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 September and 30 November 2018.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I hold the responsibility for DFID’s Science and Research. The DFID Chief Scientific Adviser has met with me three times during the period of 1 September – 30 November 2018. In addition, DFID’s Chief Scientific Adviser has also met with my colleague the Right Hon. the Lord Bates during this period.
The Chief Scientific Adviser has not met with the Secretary of State during the period of September - November 2018. The Chief Scientific Adviser continues to provide all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on DFID science and research activities.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many meetings she had with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 January and 31 March 2018.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I hold the responsibility for DFID’s Science and Research. The DFID Chief Scientific Adviser has met with me twice during the period of January-March 2018. In addition, DFID’s Chief Scientific Adviser has also had two meetings with Minister of State Lord Bates during this period.
The Chief Scientific Adviser has met with the Secretary of State twice during the period of January-March 2018. The Chief Scientific Adviser continues to provide all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on DFID’s science and research activities.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many meetings (a) she and (b) her predecessor had with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between October and December 2017.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Chief Scientific Adviser has met with the Secretary of State on 4 occasions within the time frame.
I hold the portfolio responsibility for DFID's Science and Research department. I have met the DFID Chief Scientific Adviser once since my appointment in January. In addition, DFID’s Chief Scientific Adviser has also had a meeting with DFID Lord Bates during this period.
The Chief Scientific Adviser met with my predecessor, Rory Stewart, on 3 occasions during the period of October – December 2017. The Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser also attended the Research Roundtable session with Minister Stewart.
The Chief Scientific Adviser continues to provide all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on DFID science and research activities.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many meetings (a) she and (b) Ministers of her Department have had with the Chief Scientific Adviser in her Department in the last three months.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The DFID Minister of State Rory Stewart holds the portfolio responsibility for DFID’s Science and Research. The DFID Chief Scientific Adviser has met with the Minister Stewart on 3 occasions (including all-day evidence discussion) over the last 3-months to discuss a range of science and research priorities. In addition, DFID’s Chief Scientific Adviser has also had a meeting with Lord Bates during this period
The Chief Scientific Adviser continues to provide all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on DFID science and research activities.