Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Angola on protecting the rights of civil society activists in that country.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK, along with like-minded partners, works closely with the Government of Angola and civil society organisations to encourage modern and progressive legislation and to ensure that rights and freedoms are enjoyed by the whole of society. This includes recent work in Angola promoting media freedom with female journalists; improving access to education with the Global Partnership for Education; and raising environmental awareness through the Youth for Climate summit.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will commit to reversing the 59 percent cut to UK aid to South Sudan.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant we have had to temporarily reduce the level of UK Official Development Assistance (ODA). We are committed to reviewing each year whether a return to 0.7% of gross national income is possible. We continue to be a leading donor to South Sudan and in FY 2021/22 provided an estimated 450,000 people with emergency food aid; daily water and sanitation provision for 86,000 of the most vulnerable displaced persons; nearly 900,000 girls to access education through targeted cash transfers; 797 health facilities to provide essential health and nutrition services; and support to a number of local peace agreements, including strengthening women's and youth participation in peacebuilding. Our aid budget is complemented by our diplomatic work, which presses for the implementation of the peace agreement, constitutional reforms, and good public financial management, which are essential for wider progress in South Sudan.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) devolved Administrations and (c) representatives of young people on the potential merits of the UK re-joining the European Solidarity Corps programme.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Government carefully considered which EU programmes to participate in during negotiations with the EU in 2020. Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK and the EU agreed the terms for our participation in Horizon Europe, Euratom Research and Training, and Copernicus.
The Government did not seek ongoing participation in the European Solidarity Corps. Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK remains eligible for European Solidarity Corps activities funded by the 2014-2020 budget. Opportunities for young people is a priority for the Government and DCMS continues to focus on delivery of the National Youth Guarantee. In addition, DfE will continue to offer the UK's international education mobility programme, the Turing Scheme, providing opportunities for students in the UK to study and work across the globe.
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, what steps her Department is taking to support people's livelihoods in Somalia, including supporting local markets and building the resilience of communities affected by drought.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is one of Somalia's four largest donors, contributing over £71 million in 2020/21, including £35 million of humanitarian aid. Somalia is the country worst-affected by drought in the Horn of Africa. Recurrent climate shocks and conflicts also continue to drive humanitarian needs in Somalia. Learning the lessons on drought response from 2017, the UK has acted early: we recently announced an additional £13.5 million of support for drought response in Somalia. Our funding will help both to meet immediate needs and to strengthen longer-term resilience to climatic shocks. UK early assistance, and our provision of cash-based support, avoid the selling of productive assets, protect livelihoods and support market functioning. The UK's Special Envoy for Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs visited Somalia in early February to assess the situation, and called for all stakeholders to do more in response to the crisis.
The UK is also delivering a £38 million Supporting Inclusive Growth in Somalia (SIGS) programme. This focuses on financial sector development and investment system strengthening, and on the inclusive development of Micro-Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in three to four key sectors to mitigate climate and conflict risk. It has also provided an immediate response to Covid-19 and is a programming vehicle to advance the UK's agenda on debt relief. SIGS is working towards realising the following outcome targets for Somalia: leveraging up to £60 million in investment, delivering over £30 million in increased incomes, and creating up to 20,000 jobs including for women and youth.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
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 23 July 2019 to Question 277622 on Dalal Mughrabi and Omar Abu Laila, what representations the Government has made to the Palestinian Authority on the naming of youth summer camps after Dalal Moughrabi and Omar Abu Laila; and what assessment she has made of the impact of those representations on the decision not to rename those youth summer camps.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Our partnership with the Palestinian Authority includes a commitment from the Palestinian leadership to adhere to the principle of non-violence and to tackle any language and actions that could incite violence or hatred. We continue to urge the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships to avoid engaging in, or encouraging, any type of action and language that makes it more difficult to achieve a negotiated solution to the conflict.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help support freedoms of (a) press, (b) expression and (c) association in Chad.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The Government continues to follow the situation in Chad, including through our first resident Ambassador in N'Djamena, appointed in April 2021. The UK supports the African Union's conclusions on the transition back to civilian and constitutional rule in Chad, including the holding of democratic elections by October 2022. We have expressed this position to Chadian partners regularly through our diplomatic engagement, including in a visit from our Sahel Envoy in November 2021.
The UK supports freedom of expression and the rights of Chadians, like all peoples, to freedom of assembly and peaceful protest. Through the UN Development Programme, we are providing financial support for the inclusion of women and youth in Chad's national dialogue on the transition, which is due to begin on 15 February 2022.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support (a) the African Union and (b) civil society groups in Chad in (i) ensuring that civilian organisations are able to participate in the forthcoming National Dialogue process and (ii) ensuring that a timely timetable for free, fair, and inclusive elections is set as part of the National Dialogue process.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The Government continues to follow the situation in Chad, including through our first resident Ambassador in N'Djamena, appointed in April 2021. The UK supports the African Union's conclusions on the transition back to civilian and constitutional rule in Chad, including the holding of democratic elections by October 2022. We have expressed this position to Chadian partners regularly through our diplomatic engagement, including in a visit from our Sahel Envoy in November 2021.
The UK supports freedom of expression and the rights of Chadians, like all peoples, to freedom of assembly and peaceful protest. Through the UN Development Programme, we are providing financial support for the inclusion of women and youth in Chad's national dialogue on the transition, which is due to begin on 15 February 2022.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question
To ask the President of COP26, what discussions he has had with UNICEF on the UK becoming a signatory to the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate action.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The UK Presidency team has regular meetings with UNICEF. We support many of the principles in the declaration on children, youth and climate action and are carefully considering how to engage with it.
The UK has been committed to amplifying the voices of young people from across the world through our COP26 presidency and domestic frameworks. COP26 agreed a new 10 year work programme on Action for Climate Empowerment which significantly increases youth engagement in climate processes.
In the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs 25 Year Environment Plan, the government sets out a plan for how the natural environment will be protected and enhanced for our, and future, generations. One of the actions it commits to is to help children and young people from all backgrounds engage with nature and improve the environment.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) girls and (b) girl-led groups are partners in initiatives on girls’ education supported by the UK.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We used our Presidency of the G7 in May to agree a leader-level Girls' Education Declaration prioritising girls' education in the recovery from the pandemic. The Girls' Education Declaration commits the G7 to work with developing country partners, multilateral institutions, civil society, girl-led groups and youth leaders, to remove the obstacles to education that stand in girls' way and empower girls to lead change, including in peacebuilding and efforts to tackle the climate crisis. The Prime Minister also launched the Girls' Education Action Plan in May which commits the UK, through our Special Envoy, to engaging with youth activists and encouraging their leadership as a powerful catalyst for change.
Our flagship 'Girls' Education Challenge' supports girls to gain the critical skills needed to make the most of their potential. For example, in Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe we are working with CAMFED to support over 269,000 girls to get a high quality education and thousands of learner guides, graduates from the programme, to lead initiatives to support girls' education within their communities and join forces with district and national authorities to drive change at a wider scale, ultimately re-setting the context for future generations of girls.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to sign the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action by Unicef; and if not, for what reasons.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK has long recognised the unequivocal threat that climate change and environmental degradation pose to the lives and wellbeing of individuals and communities across the world, including the most marginalised and vulnerable.
The UK has been committed to amplifying the voices of young people from across the world through our COP26 presidency and domestic frameworks.
In the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ 25 Year Environment Plan, the Government sets out a plan for how the natural environment will be protected and enhanced for our, and future, generations. One of the actions it commits to is to help children and young people from all backgrounds engage with nature and improve the environment.
We support many of the principles in the declaration on children, youth and climate action and will carefully consider how to engage with it.