Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) total UK aid and (b) the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund committed to (i) disabled people and children living in fragile and conflicted states and (ii) disabled people and children living in Syria in each of the last three years.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The information requested is not held. The UK’s programmes in fragile and conflict affected states seek to meet the needs of vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, including children.
For example, specialist paediatric centres in Jordan are supporting children with behavioural and physical disabilities. We are pioneering the use of new assessment tools to help meet the needs of children with disabilities in opposition held areas of Syria.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing earmarked funding to support vulnerable children in Eastern Ghouta.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID’s funding in Syria is allocated flexibly in order to allow our humanitarian partners to respond to emerging spikes in need.
Humanitarian access to Eastern Ghouta remains severely constrained by the Assad regime. Where and when access allows, DFID’s humanitarian partners are providing lifesaving support, such as health, nutrition and protection services, including to children and their families.
We continue to advocate for the protection of civilians and for a ceasefire to be implemented, as demanded by the UN Security Council.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) children and (b) their families in Eastern Ghouta after the recent bombing there.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID’s funding in Syria is allocated flexibly in order to allow our humanitarian partners to respond to emerging spikes in need.
Humanitarian access to Eastern Ghouta remains severely constrained by the Assad regime. Where and when access allows, DFID’s humanitarian partners are providing lifesaving support, such as health, nutrition and protection services, including to children and their families.
We continue to advocate for the protection of civilians and for a ceasefire to be implemented, as demanded by the UN Security Council.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the needs of children with disabilities in Syria on the Government’s commitment to the Grand Bargain scheme for additional investment for (a) local NGOs and (b) other partners, in advance of this year's Global Disability Summit.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK is working with the UN and other donors to translate the Grand Bargain commitments made at the World Humanitarian Summit into action. This includes supporting the capacity of local and national responders.
Since 2012, DFID has allocated £897 million to support those most in need in Syria, including vulnerable groups such as disabled children. DFID also provides tailored support through specialist paediatric centres for children with both mental and physical disabilities that are designed to meet their needs. While we are not looking to provide additional investment, we are exploring options to improve capacity of all partners in Syria to ensure better disability inclusion across our programmes.
In the run up to the first ever Global Disability Summit, which the UK is co-hosting, DFID will continue to galvanise the international community to commit more, both in terms of funding and action. This will be a pivotal moment for the disability community which will create global momentum across partners, NGOs, and governments.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money her Department has spent on bottled water in each year since 2010.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
DFID stopped buying bottled water for its UK offices in 2007. Mains-fed water filter units, serving chilled tap water, are installed throughout the UK offices for the use of both staff and visitors. The FCO now manage our overseas offices and are responsible for the provision of supplies, such as bottled water. DFID’s usage will be included in their response for the overall overseas estate to this question. In many countries the mains water is not drinkable and bottled water is provided. However, we do not keep any records of purchases or amounts spent; these are held by the FCO.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that humanitarian aid can reach civilians in (a) East Ghouta and (b) other besieged areas inside Syria.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID has supported the UN and international NGOs since the start of the Syrian conflict to deliver aid to hard-to-reach and besieged areas, including Eastern Ghouta. DFID’s humanitarian partners are on the ground in Eastern Ghouta providing life-saving healthcare, food, and protection, but humanitarian access remains severely constrained. We continue to use our position in the UN Security Council and the International Syria Support Group to press the regime and its backers to allow unfettered access so aid can reach those in desperate need, while maintaining the pressure for a political settlement to bring the suffering of the Syrian people to an end.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to support, maintain and rebuild health facilities damaged in attacks in Syria.
Answered by Alistair Burt
UK aid continues to support vital health facilities in Syria that provide first aid, trauma care, and primary and reproductive health services. Where possible, DFID-funded partners are ensuring that health facilities can continue to operate by delivering medical supplies, maintaining water and electricity supplies, and replacing damaged equipment. We are providing training to health workers to help them to protect themselves, and their patients, and to mitigate damage from attacks (including chemical weapons attacks). Where facilities have been severely damaged, or safe access is not possible, we are funding mobile medical units.