Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle food insecurity faced by Northern and East African states.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are aware that the inability to export grain from Ukraine is having a detrimental impact on food security in some North African countries. We are engaging with the relevant authorities to understand what challenges they are facing, and working with international partners to find ways to get grain out of Ukraine.
East Africa is experiencing one of its most severe droughts in history with more than 15 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia assessed to be acutely food insecure, according to the UN. The UK is a major humanitarian donor to the East Africa region. In 2022 to support communities affected by drought plus flooding and conflict the UK has provided £72 million to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan. Across the region UK funded humanitarian activities are making a difference and saving lives. In Kenya the UK is providing 26,000 children with life-saving nutritional support. In Ethiopia a further 200,000 children and pregnant and lactating women in southern and eastern regions will receive similar aid.
The UK also played a critical role in convening the recent UN Horn of Africa Drought Roundtable which took place in late April in Geneva. This included working with states in the region and the UN to ensure appropriate levels of participation. It helped to bring much needed focus on the drought and it mobilised roughly US$400 million in new funding.
Our response to the drought builds on long-established resilience building programmes in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. In Kenya this includes support to the Hunger Safety Programme, which has provided 600,000 people in drought prone areas with regular financial assistance. In Ethiopia, the UK funded Productive Safety Net Programme has benefitted some 8 million people via financial welfare provision and community public works projects. In Somalia the UK has been supporting over 220 rural communities in three large urban cities with durable solutions initiatives for internally displaced persons. These programmes, coupled with additional investments, have enabled the UK to reach nearly 8 million individuals as a part of its emergency humanitarian response.
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Chinese counterpart on the rule of law in Hong Kong.
Answered by Amanda Milling
The Foreign Secretary is in contact with her international counterparts on issues relating to Hong Kong, including the Chinese government. The UK has made clear our strong opposition to the National Security Law, which is being used to curtail freedoms, punish dissent and shrink the space for opposition, free press and civil society.
Hong Kong's way of life relies on respect for fundamental freedoms, an independent judiciary and the rule of law. We will continue to support the international laws, rules and norms that underpin the rules-based international system. As a co-signatory to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, we will also continue to stand up for the people of Hong Kong, to call out the violation of their rights and freedoms, and to hold China to its international obligations.
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the Japanese government’s approach to Russian military drills on the Kurile Islands.
Answered by Amanda Milling
We are monitoring Russia's activities in the Indo-Pacific region. Russia's military aggression against Ukraine has generated international condemnation and has consequences for global security. The UK remains committed to increased engagement and strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific. We are deepening and expanding our partnerships to promote freedom, sovereignty, democracy and good governance. We will continue to uphold the international rules and norms that underpin free trade, security and stability.Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Turkish government on mitigating the potential risk of a Russian-led escalation of tensions on the situation in Idlib.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Ministers and officials regularly discuss the situation in northern Syria with the Government of Turkey. We urge all parties to continue adherence to ceasefire agreements and international law. We remain committed to the Global Coalition Against Daesh. The UK is also in regular contact with Turkey on humanitarian conditions in north west Syria. We continue to play a leadership role in addressing humanitarian need both as a donor and through our role on the UN Security Council.