Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the White Paper on International Development published on 20 November 2023 (CP 975), when they expect to publish the FCDO Strategy on Open Societies and Human Rights; and what they anticipate the impact of the Strategy will be on (1) developing protection mechanisms, respite schemes and rapid response support for human rights defenders, and (2) supporting local networks that emphasise the protection of such defenders.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO acknowledges the commitment made in the International Development White Paper to publish an Open Societies and Human Rights Strategy. The Strategy is in draft, and it will be published in due course. In line with commitments made in the International Development White Paper, the Strategy will signal our intent to provide additional support to human rights defenders. This is in line with the recent announcement that the UK will provide £1 million in funding over the next two years to the Lifeline Embattled Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Assistance Fund to provide much needed support to civic actors facing reprisals for their important work.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has held with Cabinet colleagues on progress in implementing the Windsor Framework.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
Our priority now is ensuring the timely and successful implementation of the Framework. To this end, we have published further guidance on how the Windsor Framework will work in practice, including detail on improved customs processes and movements of goods and subsidy control, and on the UK Internal Market Scheme, the Retail Movement Scheme and the Duty Reimbursement Scheme.
This all delivers on our commitment to the Windsor Framework, its implementation and supporting businesses and members of civic societies in Northern Ireland. We have – and will continue to - engage extensively with businesses, communities and political parties in Northern Ireland to support them in adapting to these new arrangements, which will be phased in over nearly two and half years.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish an updated open societies strategy as part of the 2023 refresh of the Integrated review of security, defence, development and foreign policy.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has a long-standing commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights across the globe. We are committed to being a force for good in the world, putting human rights, open societies, democracy and the international rule of law at the centre of our foreign policy. We continue to review our policy and guidance in relation to civic space and human rights defenders within the broader strategic framing of open societies and human rights. It is too soon to discuss the outcome of that process but we continue to engage with key stakeholders on these important questions.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to develop a departmental strategy to promote human rights and civic space.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has a long-standing commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights across the globe. We are committed to being a force for good in the world, with human rights, open societies, democracy, and the international rule of law acting as our guiding lights. We continue to review our policy and guidance in relation to civic space and human rights defenders within the broader strategic framing of open societies and human rights. It is too soon to discuss the outcome of that process but we continue to engage with key stakeholders on these important questions.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote civic links between organisations in the UK and those in countries where UKaid funds programmes.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Civil society is critical for development, humanitarian and foreign policy outcomes. Encouraging international civic links is key to supporting civil society and more open, freer societies around the globe. The FCDO promotes these links in a range of ways, including through Ministerial visits, diplomatic activity and programme funding. For example, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy promotes new ways of engaging internationally, working with parliaments, political parties and civil society. Many of our UK civil society grant holders under UK Aid Direct and UK Aid Match also work in close partnership with civil society organisations overseas.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to incorporate commitments to improve support and protection for human rights defenders into G7 statements on the promotion of "open societies".
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK strongly supports human rights defenders worldwide. We know human rights defenders form an integral part of civil society, as representatives and key enablers of civic space. The G7 Foreign and Development Communique and the G7 Leaders' Open Societies Statement acknowledges the importance of human rights defenders in promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms. G7 members have committed to condemn the intimidation and harassment of, and violence against, journalists, many of whom act as defenders when reporting on human rights abuses. The G7 has also committed to support initiatives such as the Global Media Defence Fund, which supports projects that bolster journalists' legal protection and/or enhance media freedom through investigative journalism or strategic litigation.
Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, by what proportion his Department’s work on governance, democracy and anti-corruption will change as a result of reductions to Overseas Development Assistance in 2021.
Answered by Nigel Adams
As announced last year, the impact of the global pandemic on the UK economy has forced us to take the tough but necessary decision to temporarily reduce how much we spend on Official Development Assistance (ODA) to a target of spending 0.5% of Gross National Income (GNI) on ODA, rather than 0.7%. As we have set out in the Integrated Review, this is a temporary measure and we will return to 0.7% when the fiscal situation allows. No decisions on individual country or sectoral budget allocations have yet been made.
The recently-published Integrated Review is clear about the UK's commitment to being a Force for Good, supporting open societies. We will use our aid budget and British expertise to strengthen democratic institutions, human rights, free media, protect the civic space, and promote effective governance, including combatting corruption and illicit financial flows. Championing this agenda is not only essential for future development progress, but also to protect our values and interests in a world where open societies are under threat.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria his Department uses to classify a community radio station as a public interest body in relation to VAT exemption.
Answered by Jesse Norman
A public interest body is a non-profit making body which has objects that are in the public domain and are of a political, religious, patriotic, philosophical, philanthropic or civic nature. Examples include: trade unions, professional associations and learned societies. Supplies from such bodies to their members are VAT exempt when no payment, other than a subscription fee, are payable for them providing that they are referable to the aims of the organisation.
VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the standard rate of 20 per cent applies to most goods and services. While there are exceptions to the standard rate, these are strictly limited by domestic law as well as by fiscal considerations.
At present, there is no specific VAT exemption for the community radio sector or relief available for radio broadcasting more generally, and there are no plans to review this at this time.
The Government recognises the social and cultural contribution that community radio stations make to the wider community. It therefore committed £430,448 to fund grants to help further the financial stability and future sustainability of community radio stations in 2019/20. Further information on the Community Radio Fund scheme and application process is available on the website of Ofcom.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether a radio station registered as a private limited company by guarantee without the share capital classification of limited is entitled to VAT exemptions.
Answered by Jesse Norman
A public interest body is a non-profit making body which has objects that are in the public domain and are of a political, religious, patriotic, philosophical, philanthropic or civic nature. Examples include: trade unions, professional associations and learned societies. Supplies from such bodies to their members are VAT exempt when no payment, other than a subscription fee, are payable for them providing that they are referable to the aims of the organisation.
VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the standard rate of 20 per cent applies to most goods and services. While there are exceptions to the standard rate, these are strictly limited by domestic law as well as by fiscal considerations.
At present, there is no specific VAT exemption for the community radio sector or relief available for radio broadcasting more generally, and there are no plans to review this at this time.
The Government recognises the social and cultural contribution that community radio stations make to the wider community. It therefore committed £430,448 to fund grants to help further the financial stability and future sustainability of community radio stations in 2019/20. Further information on the Community Radio Fund scheme and application process is available on the website of Ofcom.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps he will take to ensure that, in line with the UN Statement of Common Understanding, a human-rights based approach is integrated within his Department's development co-operation and programming.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK is committed to respecting, promoting and protecting universal human rights. Respect for human rights is important in itself and for achieving stable, inclusive and prosperous societies. Human rights underpin freedom, democracy and rule of law and form the basis of the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are at the heart of the UK Aid Strategy and the Department’s new Single Departmental Plan which guide DFID’s strategic decision-making.
DFID country offices’ planning processes take account of interdisciplinary analysis, including a country’s progress toward achieving the SDGs, and our aid relationships involve consideration of partner governments’ commitment to human rights.
DFID carries out, and regularly reviews, programme risk assessments, including the risks of unintended harm to people and to the environment, and our Supply Partner Code of Conduct sets high, legally enforceable standards for ethical behaviour and compliance with human rights by our suppliers in the delivery of DFID contracts.
DFID’s position paper, Governance for Growth, Stability and Inclusive Development, published in March, set a refreshed strategic direction for DFID’s work on governance, including a renewed focus on protecting democratic space, where this is under threat, and supporting the rule of law and civic freedoms. It is a key reference document for future planning.