Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help secure the release of Ms Elizabeth Tsurkov who was kidnapped in Iraq in March 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is concerned over the kidnapping of Israeli-Russian dual national Elizabeth Tsurkov. The Government of Iraq opened an investigation into her kidnapping last year and we await the findings. Those suspected of criminal responsibility for her kidnapping should be brought to justice in fair trials. However, as Elizabeth Tsurkov is not a British citizen, we are not in a position to offer direct consular assistance.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to paragraph 199 of the Guide to Parliamentary Work, published by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons, if he will he make an assessment of the adequacy of his Department’s performance against that paragraph in his Answer of 21 November 2023 to Question 1578 on Afghanistan; and if he will take steps to improve the adherence of his Department to the principles set out in that Guide.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The FCDO holds data on how much aid we have provided for Afghanistan and our commitment to ensure that at least 50 per cent of those reached with our aid are women and girls. The FCDO does not hold the breakdown of how much UK aid has been allocated specifically to women-led organisations based in Afghanistan. We have not withheld information on funding allocations. The department is confident that the answer provided to PQ 1578 adequately meets the guidelines laid down by the Leader of the Commons in the Guide to Parliamentary Work.
The FCDO attaches great importance to the effective handling of Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs) and recognises the importance of Parliamentary scrutiny.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the oral evidence given by Andrew McCoubrey, Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan of his Department, to the Foreign Affairs Committee on Follow-up to Afghanistan Inquiry on 17 October 2023, Q33, HC 1888 of Session 2022-23, what steps the Government has taken to encourage the World Bank to release further funds from the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund to provide (a) humanitarian assistance following the recent earthquake in Afghanistan and (b) support for Afghan people during winter 2023-23.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The FCDO is committed to supporting Afghanistan's citizens, including helping them respond to the recent earthquake. We provided an additional £1 million to Red Cross and the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund to provide emergency shelter, food and health assistance. The UK has been instrumental in unlocking over $1 billion through the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund and we continue to work with the World Bank to deliver support at scale in health, food security and community resilience in the earthquake affected areas.
In 2023/24, we are providing the World Food Programme with over £30 million to deliver humanitarian assistance, including prepositioning essential winter food supplies in hard-to-reach areas.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the oral evidence given by Andrew McCoubrey, Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan of his Department, to the Foreign Affairs Committee on Follow-up to Afghanistan Inquiry on 17 October 2023, Q33, HC 1888 of Session 2022-23, if he will make a commitment to publishing his Department’s analysis of the implications for UK aid funding decisions for Afghanistan of the United Nations Integrated Food Security Phase Classification assessment of Afghanistan, due to be completed by the end of November 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
As the Development White Paper highlights, the UK Government prioritises humanitarian assistance to people in greatest need. On Monday the UK hosted the Global Food Security Summit, announcing up to £100 million in new humanitarian funding to countries worst hit by food insecurity, including Afghanistan. We continue to monitor the food security situation in Afghanistan, including analysing Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) data and other assessments and evidence, and use these to inform portfolio planning. In recognition of the needs in Afghanistan this year, we provided the World Food Programme with over £30 million for emergency food, cash and nutrition assistance.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the implementation of UK sanctions against the Burmese military.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since the coup in February 2021, we have imposed sanctions on 25 individuals and 29 entities. On 31 October, we announced our sixteenth round of sanctions, targeting those who profit from supplying Myanmar's military with finance and arms. Our sanctions implementation is robust - HM Treasury assesses every instance of reported non-compliance and takes action in all cases where we conclude a breach has occurred. The UK is considering a range of further targets to hold the Myanmar regime to account and will continue to maintain international efforts to ensure sanctions are effective and investigate activities that support circumvention.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 16 October 2023 to Question 203848 on the UN Population Fund and to the £425 million the UK Government pledged to the United Nations Population Fund Supplies Partnership in 2019 for 2020-2025, to how much that figure was reduced as a result of the decision to reduce that pledge in 2021; and whether the Government is on track to disburse the remaining sum outstanding under that revised pledge by the end of 2025.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK Government previously agreed to provide the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Supplies Partnership with £425 million from 2020 - 2025. This was later reduced following reductions in Overseas Development Assistance spend in 2021 to £264 million from 2020-2025. We are, however, still the largest donor to UNFPA Supplies and we are supporting supplies in additional ways such as through market shaping.
The UK Government has disbursed £204 million and is on track to disburse the final £60 million payment next financial year. The programme closes in March 2025.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Assistance Committee handbook for data reporters and users, The OECD-DAC policy marker on the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities, published in December 2020, how many projects in receipt of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from his Department scored a 1 according to that policy marker; and how much ODA his Department disbursed to those projects to spend on disability inclusion in each calendar year since 2018.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO uses the OECD-DAC disability policy marker to indicate what level of disability-inclusive activities take place with each bilateral official development assistance (ODA) programme. A score of 1 indicates that at least some deliberate disability-inclusive activity is undertaken but disability inclusion is not the main purpose of the programme. A score of 2 indicates that addressing disability inclusion is the primary purpose of the programme.
The table below gives ODA spending and project numbers for DFID and FCO (from 2018 to 2020) and FCDO (2021 onwards). The counts in columns (b) and (e) are for individual projects as reported to the OECD-DAC.
Columns (a), (b) and (c) provides the amount of ODA disbursed and details of projects that scored 2 for the marker.
Column (e) and (f) provides the details on the number of ODA projects that scored 1 for the marker.
Column (d) provides the total amount of ODA disbursed in projects that scored 1 for the marker. No information is collected centrally on the amount of ODA that is disbursed solely for disability inclusive activities in projects scoring 1.
Bilateral ODA projects1 with a DAC disability policy marker = 2 | Bilateral ODA projects1 with a DAC disability policy marker = 1 | |||||
Department | Amount of spending (£ millions) (a) | Number of projects (b) | Proportion of all bilateral projects (c) | Amount of spending (£ millions)2 (d) | Number of projects (e) | Proportion of all bilateral projects (f) |
2018 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 6.7 | 12 | 0.5% | 2,304,139 | 874 | 34.2% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Total | 6.7 | 12 | 0.4% | 2,304,139 | 874 | 26.9% |
2019 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 19.6 | 20 | 0.8% | 2,751,165 | 881 | 35.9% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Total | 19.6 | 20 | 0.7% | 2,751,165 | 881 | 29.6% |
2020 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 22.4 | 17 | 0.7% | 2,366,991 | 838 | 36.1% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 42,438 | 124 | N/A |
Total | 22.4 | 17 | 0.6% | 2,409,429 | 962 | 32.8% |
2021 | ||||||
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office | 16.2 | 15 | 0.5% | 1,527,057 | 967 | 32.2% |
20223 | ||||||
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office | 19.0 | 16 | 0.7% | 1,527,146 | 837 | 35.4% |
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Assistance Committee handbook for data reporters and users, The OECD-DAC policy marker on the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities, published in December 2020, how many projects in receipt of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from his Department scored a 2 according to that policy marker; and how much ODA his Department disbursed to those projects in each calendar year since 2018.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO uses the OECD-DAC disability policy marker to indicate what level of disability-inclusive activities take place with each bilateral official development assistance (ODA) programme. A score of 1 indicates that at least some deliberate disability-inclusive activity is undertaken but disability inclusion is not the main purpose of the programme. A score of 2 indicates that addressing disability inclusion is the primary purpose of the programme.
The table below gives ODA spending and project numbers for DFID and FCO (from 2018 to 2020) and FCDO (2021 onwards). The counts in columns (b) and (e) are for individual projects as reported to the OECD-DAC.
Columns (a), (b) and (c) provides the amount of ODA disbursed and details of projects that scored 2 for the marker.
Column (e) and (f) provides the details on the number of ODA projects that scored 1 for the marker.
Column (d) provides the total amount of ODA disbursed in projects that scored 1 for the marker. No information is collected centrally on the amount of ODA that is disbursed solely for disability inclusive activities in projects scoring 1.
Bilateral ODA projects1 with a DAC disability policy marker = 2 | Bilateral ODA projects1 with a DAC disability policy marker = 1 | |||||
Department | Amount of spending (£ millions) (a) | Number of projects (b) | Proportion of all bilateral projects (c) | Amount of spending (£ millions)2 (d) | Number of projects (e) | Proportion of all bilateral projects (f) |
2018 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 6.7 | 12 | 0.5% | 2,304,139 | 874 | 34.2% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Total | 6.7 | 12 | 0.4% | 2,304,139 | 874 | 26.9% |
2019 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 19.6 | 20 | 0.8% | 2,751,165 | 881 | 35.9% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Total | 19.6 | 20 | 0.7% | 2,751,165 | 881 | 29.6% |
2020 | ||||||
Department for International Development | 22.4 | 17 | 0.7% | 2,366,991 | 838 | 36.1% |
Foreign & Commonwealth Office | 0.0 | 0 | N/A | 42,438 | 124 | N/A |
Total | 22.4 | 17 | 0.6% | 2,409,429 | 962 | 32.8% |
2021 | ||||||
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office | 16.2 | 15 | 0.5% | 1,527,057 | 967 | 32.2% |
20223 | ||||||
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office | 19.0 | 16 | 0.7% | 1,527,146 | 837 | 35.4% |
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral evidence by Fawzia Koofi to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 17 October 2023, Q3, HC 1888 of Session 2022-23, what monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure that UK aid (a) is prevented from benefitting the Taliban and (b) reaches the people for whom it is intended.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
UK funding is provided directly to implementing partners: UN organisations, the Red Cross, and national and international non-governmental organisations. We do not provide any aid to or through the Taliban. UK aid is subject to strict monitoring and verification to ensure it reaches intended beneficiaries. Our partners are experienced in delivering in difficult circumstances and we work closely together to mitigate risks. We remain committed to ensuring that at least 50 per cent of people reached with UK aid in Afghanistan are women and girls. We achieved this in 2021-2022 and are on track to do so in 2022-2023.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral evidence by Fawzia Koofi to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 17 October 2023, Q3, HC 1888 of Session 2022-23, how much UK aid has been allocated to women-led organisations based in Afghanistan in each of the last two financial years for which information is available; and if he will take steps to ensure that the procedures for applying for UK aid are simplified for women-led organisations based in Afghanistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Afghanistan is one of FCDO's largest bilateral aid programmes this financial year, with a planned £100 million budget. Since April 2021, the UK has disbursed over £600 million in aid for Afghanistan. We remain committed to ensuring that at least 50 per cent of people reached are women and girls. We achieved this in 2021-2022 and are on track to do so in 2022-2023. Through the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund, our support contributes to a $20 million project to support civil society and NGOs with a focus on women-led organisations. FCDO officials regularly engage with Afghan women and women's groups to ensure that we are aligned in the design and delivery of our programmes.