Tag: Stephen Gethins

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 9 November 2015 to Question 14345, if her Department will publish a position proper on the criteria it uses to ensure aid graduation is sustainable.

Justine Greening

The Department is currently undertaking a Bilateral Aid Review which will determine the countries that we will provide direct bilateral assistance to over the next five years.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-03-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2016 to Question 31131, for what reason the amount of financial assistance her Department has provided to UNOCHA for its work in Libya since 1 April 2015 was not supplied in that Answer.

Mr Desmond Swayne

DFID has provided £19,867 to support UNOCHA for its work in Libya since 1 April 2015. This was to provide surge support for coordination to UNOCHA during the production of the Humanitarian Response Plan. The secondment came to a close unexpectedly early. Following a decision by OCHA not to replace the coordinator, we have used some of the remaining funds to second an Emergency Health Sector Coordinator within WHO since November 2015 at a cost of £34,614 in response to priority needs. In addition, we are currently brokering a further surge secondment to OCHA and at this point in time the costs are not finalised.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-06-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on regulation relating to air quality.

George Eustice

Until we leave the EU, current arrangements for farming, food and drink and our environment remain in place.

Defra will continue to ensure the right policies are in place for a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone. It is also vital that British farming is profitable and remains competitive – it is the bedrock of the food and drink industry, Britain’s largest manufacturing sector.

The priorities for negotiating our exit from the EU will be a matter for the new Prime Minister and their Cabinet.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-09-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September 2016 to Question 44230, whether the staff in his Department are new employees or have been seconded from other Departments.

Mr David Jones

The Department for Exiting the EU now has over 200 staff in London, plus the expertise of over 120 officials in Brussels, and we are still growing rapidly. The overall size and scope of the new department, including staffing and budget, are regularly reviewed. We will ensure we are appropriately staffed to deal with the task at hand.

The Department will include staff and officials from various departments across Government. The Department has already started drawing together expertise with staff from around 20 Departments and organisations from across Government.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding she plans to make available to replace the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice

The Chancellor has set out that the guarantee for European Structural and Investment Fund projects announced in August will be extended to the point at which the UK departs the EU. This guarantee includes the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and provides further certainty to those fishers, seafood businesses and other organisations seeking support. Where projects secure EMFF funding before we exit, payments will be guaranteed even after the UK has left the EU.

Defra officials will be working with the Department for Exiting the EU to look at future policies for fisheries. We will continue to work closely with relevant industry and other key stakeholders to develop these new arrangements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2015-12-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department plans to take at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria’s pre-replenishment meeting in Tokyo to encourage increased funding from other donors.

Mr Nick Hurd

The UK government supports calls for shared responsibility and global solidarity in the response to HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

We strongly believe countries should commit according to their ability to contribute. At the pre-replenishment meeting in Tokyo the UK urged all countries to contribute their fair share to the 2017-2019 Global Fund replenishment to ensure a quicker end to AIDS, TB and Malaria.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-03-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2016 to Question 31131, how much financial assistance her Department plans to provide UNOCHA for its work in Libya during the next financial year.

Mr Nick Hurd

In the next financial year, DFID will fund a secondment to OCHA to support coordination of the humanitarian response. Exact figures are to be finalised, though we expect it to be of the order of £50,000. We are keeping the humanitarian situation in Libya under review including funding requirements in the next financial year and stand by ready to adapt our response in order to meet humanitarian needs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-06-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the food and drink industry.

George Eustice

Until we leave the EU, current arrangements for farming, food and drink and our environment remain in place.

Defra will continue to ensure the right policies are in place for a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone. It is also vital that British farming is profitable and remains competitive – it is the bedrock of the food and drink industry, Britain’s largest manufacturing sector.

The priorities for negotiating our exit from the EU will be a matter for the new Prime Minister and their Cabinet.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which EU commissioners he has met since taking office; and when and where such meetings took place.

Greg Hands

My Rt. hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade met with the EU Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström at the European Commission offices in Geneva on September 27.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which EU commissioners she has met since taking office; and when and where such meetings took place.

George Eustice

Defra Ministers engage with EU Commissioners on a regular basis, including in the margins of each EU Council meeting. I had an informal discussion with Phil Hogan at the September informal Council. The most recent Ministerial discussions took place at a meeting between Thérèse Coffey and Commissioner Karmenu Vella as part of a conference on CITES.