10 Jun 2011 : Column 545W
International Development
Arab Partnership Fund
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the £40 million in the Arab Partnership Fund announced for political reform is to be funded by his Department. [59085]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) will contribute up to £20 million over four years to the political reform component of the expanded Arab Partnership. We are also funding the economic technical assistance component with up to £70 million over four years. We are working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on developing the expanded partnership.
Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department is providing support to the office of the UN Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict. [59082]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) strongly supports the work of the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, whom the Minister of State, Department for International Development, met on 19 January 2011. Ministers meet regularly to discuss the UK's work in this area and the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Minister for Equalities, raises awareness and builds support for this as the UK's International Violence Against Women Champion. We are firmly committed to tackling sexual violence in armed conflict as part of our wider work to address violence against women and girls, in support of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
For example, DFID currently supports the United Nations' Humanitarian Pooled Fund for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which in 2010 funded several projects responding to the needs of victims of sexual violence. Through this mechanism, UK funds provided over 27,000 women with emergency medical care and almost 3,500 women with psychosocial support. The UK also works to strengthen the ability of UN Peacekeeping troops in DRC to protect civilians from sexual violence.
Departmental Trade Unions
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many UK-based trade union officials' employment has been funded in whole or in part through funding agreements between his Department and trade unions in each year since his Department was established. [57621]
Mr Duncan: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID's) support to trade unions are available in the Library of the House.
10 Jun 2011 : Column 546W
Developing Countries: Female Genital Mutilation
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of female genital mutilation in the developing world. [59171]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government condemn female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) as a clear abuse of the rights of children and women, wherever it takes place. The Department for International Development's (DFID's) new Framework for Results for improving reproductive, maternal and newborn health, recognises the serious health risks of FGM/C, and supports locally driven social change activities that can challenge and change norms including FGM/C.
DFID supports measures to eliminate FGM/C through our core funding to the key UN agencies that address FGM/C, namely the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). We also provide support to programmes run by non-governmental organisations, including to the Population Council who carry out research, policy and programme work on adolescents, reproductive health and FGM/C. For example, in the Afar region of Ethiopia, we supported work to raise awareness of the dangers of FGM/C, providing training of officials and working with community and religious leaders to reach into communities.
Developing Countries: Females
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the co-ordination of work to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women undertaken across the UN system. [58145]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Improving the lives of girls and women throughout the world is a crucial priority for the UK's aid programme. With several different organisations working on gender, previously the UN system lacked co-ordination and focus on gender equality. The UK greatly welcomes the creation of UN Women, a new UN agency which merges four previously-existing UN institutions into one stronger organisation designed to ensure co-ordination across the UN and to work towards gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide.
I most recently met Michelle Bachelet, the head of UN Women, when she visited the UK on 16-17 May. We discussed the importance of girls and women in development and the crucial role UN Women will play in driving better results from across the UN system on gender. I look forward to the adoption of UN Women's strategic plan at the Executive Board at the end of June.
Diaspora Organisations
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the date was of each meeting he has had with representatives from diaspora organisations in the UK. [59083]
Mr Andrew Mitchell:
I have met representatives of diaspora organisations on a number of occasions in the past year. Many diaspora organisations belong to BOND
10 Jun 2011 : Column 547W
and NIDOS, the Scottish umbrella group for NGOs. In November 2010 I spoke at the BOND AGM. I have also had regularly meetings with NIDOS and am meeting the organisation today in Edinburgh.
The Under-Secretary of State for International Development, spoke at the launch of Africa-UK in February 2011, a new national initiative dedicated to enhancing the contribution of the diaspora to Africa's development.
Department for International Development (DFID) officials meet regularly with diaspora organisations. The mast recent of these meetings was a diaspora network event hosted by NIDOS in Edinburgh in March 2011.
Libya: Humanitarian Aid
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will discuss with the Italian Government the provision of humanitarian assistance to migrants from Libya. [59168]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I recently spoke to the Italian Foreign Minister. We agreed it is important the international community continues to support those suffering as a result of the conflict in Libya. This includes the early action by the UK Government to fly home over 12,700 migrant workers from the borders, provide emergency shelter for displaced people, funding for the emergency evacuation of people from Misurata and essential support for food, medical supplies and personnel.
Palestinians: Politics and Government
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effects of Israeli restrictions on planning, construction, movement and access in Area C of the West Bank on (a) access to water and natural resources, (b) food security, (c) protection of livelihoods, (d) access to health and education and (e) the overall humanitarian situation in that region. [58931]
Mr Duncan: We are monitoring the situation in Area C of the West Bank carefully, drawing on regular reporting from the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:
www.ochaopt.org
and the Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene group:
www.ewash.org
as well as analysis such as that of the Special Rapporteur to the UN Human Rights Council on Occupied Palestinian Territories, published in February this year.
We are deeply concerned about the impact of Israeli restrictions on Palestinians living in Area C. Access to water and land is restricted, there are high levels of food insecurity and loss of livelihoods. Many Palestinians in Area C have limited access to education and healthcare, with the Palestinian authority unable to deliver basic services. In addition, in 2010 there were 353 demolitions (85% more than in 2009) of Palestinian structures in Area C, leading to forced displacement. We have repeatedly raised these concerns with the Israeli Government, being
10 Jun 2011 : Column 548W
clear that Israel should take the steps necessary to ensure that the rights of people living in Area C are protected.
The UK supports the UN Relief and Works Agency to provide essential services to refugees living in Area C. We are also supporting the Norwegian Refugee Council to provide legal support and advice to vulnerable families and communities in danger of risk of displacement.
Energy and Climate Change
Electricity
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had on decentralised energy with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. [58328]
Charles Hendry: We hold regular discussions on decentralised energy with the Department for Communities and Local Government, including in relation to planning, building performance, microgeneration and market reform.
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration his Department has given to the role of distributed generation in its consideration of security of energy supply in the energy markets. [58329]
Charles Hendry: We consulted on Electricity Market Reform in December 2010. Many respondents stressed the need to ensure that changes we make to the electricity system reflect importance of electricity supply at all scales of the energy market, including distributed generation.
As well as the primary challenge of ensuring sufficient investment and development at a scale that delivers the large scale electricity generating capacity we need to keep the lights on, we are also determined to ensure there is liquidity at all scales of the market and to address the issue of barriers to entry for small scale and independent generators.
Distributed generation can also be used as a form of demand-side response (DSR), where local generation is used to reduce the effective total demand of a supplier. We consider it important that any form of reliable generation or demand-side response should be able to contribute towards security of supply, so that we can achieve the appropriate level of security of supply in the most cost effective form. Further details of the Government's electricity market reform will be set out in a white paper which is due to be published before the summer recess 2011.
Energy: Infrastructure
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent progress has been made on his Department's National Policy Statements for energy infrastructure; and if he will make a statement. [59156]
Charles Hendry:
As the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said in his statement to this House on 18 May 2011, Official Report, columns 20-21WS, we are carefully considering Dr Weightman's
10 Jun 2011 : Column 549W
interim report on the implications for the UK of events at Fukushima and subject to that we intend to lay the energy National Policy Statements before Parliament as soon as possible.
Financial Institutions
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the renewal of the Risk Sharing Financing Facility. [58890]
Charles Hendry: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has not had discussions with the European Commission on the renewal of the Risk Sharing Finance Facility separate from the Government's recent position paper on the Commission proposal for a Common Strategic Framework for EU research and innovation funding from 2014. This paper is available on the BIS website.
Natural Gas: Exploration
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 5 April 2011, Official Report, column 885W, on natural gas: exploration, on what dates (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have met (i) the Health and Safety Executive and (ii) the environment agencies to discuss unconventional gas since 1 January 2011; and if he will publish the minutes of each such meeting. [58308]
Charles Hendry: Since 1 January 2011 neither I nor other DECC Ministers have met with the Health and Safety Executive or environment agencies to discuss unconventional gas. However my officials are in involved in a regular dialogue with these regulatory bodies on this subject.
Natural Gas: Fylde
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department plans to investigate the safety of shale gas extraction on the Fylde coast following recent seismic activity in the area. [58984]
Charles Hendry:
Following the recent seismic tremors, the Department had discussions with the operator, Cuadrilla, and agreed that a pause in operations is
10 Jun 2011 : Column 550W
appropriate so that a better understanding can be gained of the cause of the seismic events experienced in Poulton-le-Fylde. A geomechanical study is being undertaken, along with further work by the British Geological Survey and Keele university. The implications of this information will be reviewed before any decision on the resumption of hydraulic fracture operations is made.
Natural Gas: Morecambe Bay
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has allocated any funds to the development of the Centrica liquefied natural gas platform to be stationed in Morecambe Bay. [59231]
Charles Hendry: The Department has not allocated funds to any offshore liquefied natural gas projects in Morecambe Bay.
Renewable Energy
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the UK's electricity supply came from renewable energy in each year since 1997. [58609]
Charles Hendry: The following table shows the proportion of the UK's electricity supply from renewable electricity generation in each year since 1997, figures for 2010 will be published on 28 July 2011.
|
|
Renewables proportion of UK electricity supply (percentage) |