Tag: Diane Abbott

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2015-11-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what (a) the amount of any underspend expected against departmental expenditure limits in the current fiscal year and (b) her Department’s latest forecast of total annually managed expenditure spend for this year is; and what the forecasts were for those sums at the time of the Summer Budget 2015 and March Budget 2015.

Justine Greening

The last main supply estimate was published in July 2015, and is available online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/main-supply-estimates-2015-to-2016.

DFID is currently forecasting to fully utilise its departmental expenditure limits (DEL) and annually managed expenditure (AME) as allocated and approved by Parliament.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her Department’s policy on the factors influencing migration to the UK of the findings of the Overseas Development Institute in its report, Journeys to Europe: the role of policy in migrant decision-making, published in February 2016.

James Brokenshire

The Government believes that a comprehensive solution is needed to deal with the causes of the migration crisis, not just its consequences. This includes stability in source and transit countries; swift assistance to those in need of humanitarian protection and speedy return of those who are not. We will continue to work with EU partners to solve the immediate issues, and to implement a wider plan: in particular, we are supporting more effective management of the EU’s external border, joint action on people smuggling, and stronger cooperation with third countries.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department’s expenditure on the Bloodhound Supersonic Car project in South Africa on reducing poverty in that country.

James Duddridge

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has incurred no expenditure on the development of the Bloodhound Supersonic Car.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-04-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Egyptian government’s restrictions on domestic non-governmental organisations on her Department’s effectiveness in that country.

Justine Greening

The UK Government is concerned by growing restrictions on civil society in Egypt and continues to make a positive case that the presence of a dynamic civil society is in Egypt’s interest.

We work with a range of partners in the country including the World Bank, private sector and including some NGOs and we will continue to ensure that work remains effective.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department has provided for the internally-displaced people who have fled their homes in Fallujah after the Iraqi government assault on that town.

Justine Greening

Since June 2014, the UK has committed £79.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the crisis in Iraq. The UK is the largest contributor to the Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund, through which we are funding projects to support those leaving Fallujah.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-01-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2016 to Question 22275, what assessment his Department made of the risk that items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law as defined in the Export Control Act 2002 and the EU Common position when making the decision to grant licences for the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The UK Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of all relevant factors at the time of the application including International Humanitarian Law. The Government is satisfied that extant licences for Saudi Arabia are compliant with the UK’s export licensing criteria.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of how the EU Refugee Facility for Turkey will reduce migration from Turkey.

James Brokenshire

The UK supports the Turkey-EU Action Plan of which the EU Refugee Facility is part of, which was signed on 29 November between the EU and Turkey. Implementation will not be straightforward given the volume of numbers and the determination of individuals to cross land and sea borders. The facility will positively impact on the numbers of refugees leaving Turkey. The Refugee facility will provide immediate humanitarian support and access to schools, hospitals, housing and employment required over the longer term to support refugees and the communities which host them. The Action Plan is just one aspect of efforts to respond to the migration crisis seen in the Mediterranean last year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of allowing for more security-related expenditure within the definition of Official Development Assistance on maintaining a distinction between development cooperation and policing missions for security.

Justine Greening

The updates to the ODA rules agreed at the 2016 High Level Meeting (18-19 February 2016) mean that ODA can be used to support the military in fragile countries on issues that promote development, such as human rights and the prevention of sexual violence; this means the international community is better equipped to meet Global Goal 16, which calls for the stronger governance in developing countries to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the recommendations of the report of the Public Accounts Committee, Department for International Development: responding to crises, published on 20 April 2016, what steps she is taking to ensure that her Department improves its system of accounting for ODA spend on humanitarian emergencies.

Justine Greening

The Government will respond to the Committee’s recommendations in the usual way in a Treasury Minute which will be laid before Parliament.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to assist people in the Indonesian province of Province of Davao del Norte affected by the drought in that province.

Justine Greening

There is no province called Davao del Norte in Indonesia.