Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 20 July 2020 to Question 73751 on Israel: Palestinians, for what reason the UK’s People-to-People programme ended without alternative provision being established to help ensure continued UK support for co-existence projects in Israel-Palestine.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
As the Chancellor has set out, like many other nations across the world the UK is experiencing a severe economic downturn as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Given the likely decrease in the size of the economy this year, the First Secretary chaired a review process across government looking at all strands of the ODA budget, evaluating the impacts of spend and making sure the UK can maintain operational capacity. This process also has made sure there is continued support for five ODA priorities; bottom billion poverty reduction, climate change, girls' education, Covid-19 and Britain as a force for good.
All ODA spending Departments will now work with respective partners to make these savings in a responsible and efficient way.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing to coexistence projects in Israel-Palestine.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Our people to people programme aimed to foster cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians on issues that can have a positive impact on both communities and build understanding between people on both sides of the conflict, helping build support for a peaceful, negotiated resolution. This programme ended in March 2020.
The programme’s research component will analyse the impact of people-to-people work, building an evidence base which will inform any future work in this area.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans he has for the People for Peaceful Change programme after 31 March 2020.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Our people to people programme aims to brings together Israelis and Palestinians. This is aimed at having a positive impact on both communities and at building understanding between people on both sides of the conflict. programme is due to be completed by March 2020. It includes a research component that is looking more broadly at the impact of people to people work on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to build the evidence base in this area, which is presently limited. We will evaluate the evidence which will inform future decisions on work in this area.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to facilitate Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organisation to safeguard global health security.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has a critical role in protecting the world’s health and strengthening global health security. The WHO has an agreed process for engagement with Taiwan including on Global Health security and health emergencies. The UK continues to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations where statehood is not a prerequisite and where Taiwan can make a valuable contribution.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many members of her Department's executive board are disabled.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
This information cannot be provided as numbers are too low to disclose for data protection reasons.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many members of her Department's executive board are (a) white British and (b) from any other ethnic background.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
This information cannot be provided as numbers are too low to disclose for data protection reasons.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many members of her Department's executive board are (a) male and (b) female.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
DFID’s Executive Management Committee consists of four male members and one female member.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many and what proportion of (a) her Department's staff and (b) staff working for companies contracted by her Department who are paid less than the Living Wage are (i) women and (ii) men.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
There are no staff directly employed by DFID who are paid less than the current Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation. DFID considers the rate of pay for outsourced workers to be an issue for contractors. We encourage outsource partners to pay the Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many and what proportion of (a) her Department's staff and (b) staff working for companies contracted by her Department who are paid less than the Living Wage are (i) white British and (ii) from an ethnic minority background.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
There are no staff directly employed by DFID who are paid less than the current Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation. DFID considers the rate of pay for outsourced workers to be an issue for contractors. We encourage outsource partners to pay the Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many and what proportion of (a) her Department's staff and (b) staff working for companies contracted by her Department are paid less than the Living Wage.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
There are no staff directly employed by DFID who are paid less than the current Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation. DFID considers the rate of pay for outsourced workers to be an issue for contractors. We encourage outsource partners to pay the Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.