Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the need for disaster relief and reconstruction funding for the Commonwealth of Dominica in the wake of Hurricane Maria and other recent extreme weather events.

Dominica suffered the worst impact from Hurricane Maria. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the UN assess that the entire population suffered direct damage to livelihoods and 90% of houses were damaged.

We have committed £5m specifically for Dominica, which proved critical in getting lifesaving supplies onto the island. We used HMS Ocean, including its 7 helicopters, to get aid into remote villages.

We have currently a team of humanitarian and logistics experts on the ground, working closely with the local authorities and specialist partners to ensure that aid continues to reach those most in need, through prioritised and coordinated distribution.