Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department's main policy priority is for 2017; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Rory Stewart
As the Prime Minister has said, the Department for International Development has a critical role to play not only in tackling poverty but helping the UK play a confident, engaged and ambitious role in the world. To deliver this, we will drive reform of the entire global development system to further improve its effectiveness. My specific policy priorities for 2017 and thereafter are set out in the Bilateral and Multilateral Development Reviews, published in December 2016.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the (a) mean and (b) median pay was for staff in her Department who were (i) male, (ii) female, (iii) white, (iv) from an ethnic minority background, (v) disabled and (vi) non-disabled in the most recent year for which information is available, broken down by (A) full-time and (B) part-time workers.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The (a) mean and (b) median pay was for staff in DFID who were (i) male, (ii) female, (iii) white, (iv) from an ethnic minority background, (v) disabled and (vi) non-disabled in the most recent year for which information is available, broken down by (A) full-time and (B) part-time workers is as follows:
. | Mean Pay | Median Pay | ||
. | Part Time | Full Time | Part Time | Full Time |
Male | £51,070 | £50,804 | £54,250 | £53,430 |
Female | £47,728 | £47,060 | £54,750 | £51,119 |
White | £47,126 | £50,146 | £53,430 | £52,901 |
BAME | £48,865 | £47,594 | £54,250 | £52,901 |
Staff who have recorded that they have a disability | £49,300 | £45,594 | £42,830 | £43,718 |
Staff who have recorded that they do not have a disability. | £48,535 | £49,299 | £54,250 | £52,901 |
This information is based on the information we hold about staff in our HR Systems which they record voluntarily.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many former prisoners have been employed by her Department in each of the last five years.
Answered by Rory Stewart
DFID staff are appointed subject to a security check, which includes a review of any criminal record. DFID cannot confirm if any former prisoners have been employed in the last five years.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2017 to Question 59290, what the value of other Departments' Official Development Assistance budgets was for each of the last six years.
Answered by Rory Stewart
ODA spend by other departments is available from the National Statistics publication, Statistics on International Development:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/572073/table-a-3a.ods
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2017 to Question 59290, for what reasons other Departments have Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets; and if she will review the effectiveness of the ODA budgets of other Departments to ensure value for money for the public purse.
Answered by Rory Stewart
Spending 0.7% of Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a UK commitment which is firmly in the national interest. In order to respond to the new global challenges, the UK Aid Strategy sets out the need to deploy the wider skills and expertise of all parts of government.
Accounting officers of departments or public bodies whose money is being spent on aid need to ensure they fulfil their obligations under HM Treasury’s ‘Managing Public Money’, including ensuring value for money of the use of public funds.
The International Development Act places an obligation on the Secretary of State to ensure the independent evaluation of UK ODA.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department's role is in reviewing the overseas development assistance work and budgets of other government departments.
Answered by Rory Stewart
Departments are accountable for their Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget and must ensure it offers value for money. DFID is committed to supporting other government departments to help them ensure aid spending offers value for money for the UK taxpayer and is consistent with international rules on ODA. DFID co-chairs a cross-government senior officials group with HM Treasury, whose role is to support departments and funds ensure value for money of all UK ODA.
The Independent Commission for Aid Impact will scrutinise all UK ODA. DFID also supports all UK Government departments providing ODA to meet the UK Aid Strategy commitment on transparency.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2016, to Question 41982, which nations receive direct foreign aid from the UK.
Answered by Rory Stewart
DFID has now stopped providing general budget support in all countries with the exception of Pakistan. This year DFID only anticipates providing sector budget support in Ghana, Nepal, Pakistan and Zambia.
We also support partner governments to deliver development objectives in other ways including technical assistance and support to build their core systems. This ensures appropriate safeguards for UK taxpayers’ resources are in place.