Tag: Baroness Tonge

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-01-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what core and non-core contributions were made by the Department for International Development to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Marie Stopes International, and Women and Children First (UK) in (1) 2013–14, and (2) 2014–15.

Earl of Courtown

The UK provides support to a range of Civil Society Organisations to help deliver our commitments across a range of priority areas. This includes policy around universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, working to save lives from Malaria and ending preventable child and maternal deaths. This supports the UK national interest by leading to a healthier, more prosperous world.

DFID made core contributions of £543 million in 2013/14 and £285 million in 2014/15 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation directly received core funding of £8.6 million per year during 2013/14 and 2014/15 through a Programme Partnership Arrangement (PPA) but were not in receipt of any other funding during the same period. During financial year 2013/14 and 2014/15, Marie Stopes International (MSI) directly received core funding through a PPA of £4.35 million per year, In addition, MSI directly received other non-core funding of approximately £12.5 million in 2013/14 and £13.4 million in 2014/15.

DFID works with MSI and IPPF to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to modern family planning methods, to give women in developing countries the reproductive health choices they want and need.

Women and Children First UK received funding of £177,638 in 2014/15 through the Global Poverty Action Fund (GPAF) which was a demand-led fund to support small and medium sized Civil Society Organisations (CSOs to reduce poverty through service delivery, livelihoods, empowerment, accountability and peace, security and justice.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-02-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the outcome of potential female genital mutilation victims being interviewed in UK airports at the beginning and end of the school summer holidays in 2015.

Lord Bates

Border Force continues to prioritise safeguarding activity, with trained safeguarding teams in place across Border Force. These teams are specifically trained to identify potential victims of FGM, and work collaboratively with the police and social services to carry out targeted operations on high risk flights. Such activity is highly sensitive, and to preserve the integrity of such operations, the Home Office does not comment on individual cases or investigations, or their outcomes. Border Force is aware of specific concerns raised by Baroness Tonge last summer and will write to her addressing those concerns.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-02-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s guidance Overseas Business Risk – The Occupied Palestinian Territories, what advice they have given to local councils and other public bodies on (1) trade with businesses in the state of Israel, (2) trade with businesses in the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), (3) trade with Israeli companies that also work in the Israeli settlements in the OPTs, and (4) trade with any company from the UK that also has contracts in the Israeli settlements in the OPTs.

Lord Bridges of Headley

On 17 February, the Government published procurement guidance for public authorities that makes clear that boycotts in public procurement are inappropriate and may be illegal outside where formal legal sanctions, embargoes and restrictions have been put in place by the UK Government. It is general guidance for public authorities on contracting with suppliers from WTO countries.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-03-07.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about allowing visits of parliamentarians to Gaza.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We do not make representations on behalf of British nationals, including parliamentarians, wishing to travel to Gaza. Parliamentarians should be aware that at this time the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to Gaza. Entry and exit from Gaza is difficult and can, at times, be impossible. Entry is through either Israel, with permission from the Israeli authorities, or Egypt, with permission from the Egyptian authorities (although this border has been closed almost entirely since October 2014).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-03-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will respond to question HL6501, about trade with Israel, tabled on 26 February.

Lord Bridges of Headley

On 17 February, the Government published procurement guidance for public authorities that makes clear that boycotts in public procurement are inappropriate and may be illegal outside where formal legal sanctions, embargoes and restrictions have been put in place by the UK Government. It is general guidance for public authorities on contracting with suppliers from WTO countries.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-04-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning recent power cuts in Gaza, in particular the impact on waste water management and sewage disposal.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We have concerns about Gaza’s chronic power shortages, which have caused problems with water supply and sewage treatment. While the British Government has not specifically raised the recent power cuts in Gaza with the Israeli government or the Palestinian Authority, officials at our Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly urge the Israeli authorities to ease restrictions on Gaza and to facilitate improvements in energy infrastructure.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-05-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the World Health Organization about making Misoprostol available in conflict settings.

Baroness Verma

DFID has regular contact with the Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations (IAWG), of which WHO is a member.

The IAWG establishes technical standards for the delivery of reproductive health services in crisis contexts. Misoprostol is included in the drugs list for the IAWG’s Reproductive Health Kits for Crisis Situations, used to deliver the Minimal Initial Service Package for Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations (MISP), a series of crucial actions to respond to reproductive health needs at the onset of every humanitarian crisis. The UK advocates for full implementation of the MISP at the onset of emergencies.

DFID has supported the Reproductive Maternal Newborn and Child Health Trust Fund that focuses on increasing the availability of misoprostol, as one of 13 life-saving commodities, in all countries as a follow up to the UN Commission on Life Saving Commodities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-05-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the closure of all commercial crossings in the West Bank on 11 and 12 May, preventing permit holders from accessing Israel or East Jerusalem because of Israel’s Commemoration and Independence Day.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

While we are not planning to make any representations to the Israeli authorities on these specific incidents, we remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement between the West Bank and East Jerusalem. We continue to work closely with the Quartet and EU partners to call on Israel to ease access restrictions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-06-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government at what intervals female newborn babies born to mothers who have been victims of female genital mutilation will receive follow-up health and welfare checks.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is illegal, extremely harmful and it is child abuse. Girls born to mothers who have had FGM are offered the same range of newborn and infant health checks as offered to all families.

In addition to the routine newborn and infant health checks offered to all families as part of the Healthy Child Programme, professionals have safeguarding responsibilities meaning that if they have any concerns about FGM they should take appropriate safeguarding actions, including sharing this with key professionals within the child’s life as part of local safeguarding procedures. In addition, any concerns about potential risk of FGM must be recorded within the child’s Red Book.

A multi-agency approach is essential to protect girls from harm and as such, midwives, health visitors, general practitioners and school nurses amongst others are all responsible for the health and welfare of all children they see, irrespective of whether the mother has had FGM or not.

The document Female Genital Mutilation Risk and Safeguarding Guidance for professionals (Department of Health, May 2016) provides information for health professionals on the specific issues frequently encountered when dealing with FGM. A copy of this document is attached.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-07-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are supporting the government of Rwanda in its work to provide reproductive health choices to women and girls in Rwanda.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

DFID is supporting the Rwandan Ministry of Health to implement a Girls Empowerment Programme which is enabling 92,000 girls over three years to meet in safe spaces across the country. This programme is closely aligned with the Government of Rwanda’s own Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy. Girls are mentored and guided through a curriculum that includes sexual and reproductive health, prevention of violence and guidance on staying safe and healthy. The programme also includes ‘learning journeys’ during which girls have the opportunity to visit local health centres and to learn about the services that are available to support them, in particular around adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

Interim findings show that the programme is successfully building girls’ knowledge around sexual and reproductive health, as well as giving them the confidence and awareness of how to access more information and services.