Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing financial support to increase the level of activity at the fisheries research laboratory in Monkey Bay, Malawi.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting Malawi to diversify its economy, improve inclusive growth and eradicate extreme poverty. My Department has not made an assessment of the merits of providing support to the fisheries research laboratory in Monkey Bay. However, a new programme of agricultural support is currently in design and assessing potential options for UK support, including on fisheries.
Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent progress has been made on developing the solar market in Malawi.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
During my visit to Malawi last year, I signed a Compact with the Government of Malawi as part of the UK’s “Energy Africa” campaign. The Compact sets out agreed actions to remove policy and regulatory barriers to Malawi’s solar market expansion. The UK is also working alongside energy companies to develop inclusive business models for solar products, providing technical support to improve markets, distribution and access to consumer and business finance.
Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to encourage other donors to scale up nutrition investment programmes to tackle malnutrition in high-burden countries.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
DFID is encouraging donors to prioritise nutrition, through the G7, the Scaling Up Nutrition movement, and through bilateral channels. We are encouraging both increased nutrition specific work as well as a greater nutrition focus in donors’ broader development work. We are also tracking Nutrition for Growth commitments through the Global Nutrition Report.
Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to monitor and report on the effect of its nutrition investment programmes in low and middle income countries.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
DFID monitors and publishes reviews on all its nutrition programmes in low and middle income countries on an annual basis. For example, DFID’s programme in northern Nigeria aims to reduce stunting and wasting by at least 4% over 7 years and includes investment with partners to monitor impact. DFID is also building the capacity of governments to collect and use nutrition data effectively. DFID supports the Global Nutrition Report which tracks progress to reduce undernutrition globally.
Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans her Department has for the inclusion of HIV and AIDS within its Leaving No-One Behind framework.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The Leave No One Behind Promise means we will focus on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, which includes groups affected by HIV and AIDS. The UK’s recent £1.1 billion pledge to the Global Fund to fight AIDs, TB and Malaria is a practical example of this commitment.
Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with the government of Malawi on growing alternative crops other than tobacco such as (a) tea and (b) maize.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The UK has regular discussions with the Government of Malawi on the reforms needed to diversify Malawi’s agricultural base. During my recent visit to Malawi, I urged the Malawian Government to make progress on the policy environment for agribusiness, and particularly emphasised the need for reform to maize markets.
The UK provides particular support to the expansion of oilseeds and rice as alternative crops. Through the Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund we also support a tea business, and through AgDevCo we invest in groundnuts, sugar, paprika/chillies and macadamia nuts.
Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will offer assistance to New Zealand to manage the effects of the recent earthquakes in that country.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The UK has monitored the situation since the earthquake occurred and stood ready to offer assistance if required.
The UK will not be providing a response in the aftermath of the earthquake, as the Government of New Zealand have not requested international assistance.