International Development Questions House of Commons

a round-up of the day in both houses from 11:30pm this evening. First,

questions for the international development minister Justine

Greening and her team of ministers. Questions for the Secretary of State

for International Development. Mr John Howard. I would like to thank

the right Honourable member for Hatfield for his work in the

department. I would also like to thank the member for North Wood,

Ruislip and enough. -- Pinner. Our plan for Palestinian territories

contains a results framework which is updated quarterly. I draw the

house was my attention to my register of interest. Will the

Minister will assure me that no aid will go to support the glorification

of terrorism. The Prime Minister and I have been very clear that we

deplore incitement on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We

investigate any allegations very closely and raise them with both the

Palestinian and Israeli authorities. It only goes to approved individuals

through a World Bank audit. Palestinian refugees from Syria are

suffering enormously in that country. What more can we do to

ensure that the vital work of the UN relief and Works agency has secured

funding for the long term? I had the chance to meet with the head of the

UN relief and Works agency only last week and we discussed the need to

make sure that their funding is sustained. They do absolutely

critical work and in the context of needing to improve the international

response to more protracted crises we can look at the work that they

are doing in relation to Palestinian refugees. Wouldn't it be better that

money was put into direct projects rather than through third-party

organisations where we cannot really be sure of the outcome? I can

hopefully reassure him that the agencies we work with and the

organisations are ones that we know are ones we can achieve value for

money results on the ground with. I have been an aide disciplinarian,

making sure we get value for money. We have to get value from the

agencies that are there and we have a multilaterally agreed relief fund

making sure that this is done progressively. The secretary of

state will be aware of the guidance on the Foreign Office website that

warns against investing in the region, and other economic

activities in Israeli settlements because of the legal nature of those

settlements. Does she agree with me that it is perfectly reasonable for

the public and private institutions to pay due regard to this advice

when they make their own investment and procurement decisions? That is

good Foreign Office advice. We have been very clear that we deplore

illegal settlements. They are taking as further away from a two state

solution and peace in that part of the world when we need to be taken

what could be final chances to reach a two state solution. We'd like to

welcome the member for Riesling North and Pinner. How does the

Secretary of State justify the decrease in funding to organisations

like the United nations relief and Works agency? I don't recognise the

statement she has just made. The United Kingdom has made sure that we

got support to vulnerable Palestinians, not only in Gaza but

also in the West Bank. We help fund, for example, the materials monetary

unit in Gaza. I'm sure she is aware of that and it would be helpful to

have her support on it. Gaza has the highest unemployment in the world.

The World Bank estimates that by the end of 2014, youth unemployment had

reached 60%. Extensive restrictions inhibit employment.

Gaza is still faces restrictions on its agricultural land and fishable

waters. Until such restrictions are taken away, we will continue to work

with one arm tied behind our back. Restrictions inhibit employment. We

will not give up. We have a programme for economic improvement

that is making slow and frustrating improvement but nevertheless

improvement. Can we make it clear that supporting Palestinian people

has nothing to do with anti-Semitism. I wanted to clarify

that. Would the Minister not agree that the appalling situation in Gaza

which he has given the figures for, shows the need for developed

democracies to do far more. What hope can there be for Palestinian

people when they are faced with so little hope of getting jobs and

having a decent life. Shouldn't we be far more concerned with the

Palestinian tragedy than we are. I agree with the honourable gentleman

and we do everything we can diplomatically to raise the sites of

the world community and will continue to do so. Would my

honourable friend not agree that the bill cited campaign for boycotts and

this investment is also leading to greater unemployment amongst

Palestinian people? The problem faced by Gaza is restrictions and

the extension of restrictions is a block to peace. May I place on

record my personal respect for the honourable member for Welwyn garden

and Hatfield in kick-starting the image Africa campaign. SMEs will

play a critical role in sustaining and creating jobs in poor countries

and we have a programme focused on raising finance for SMEs and social

enterprises. He has a reputation for being an innovator. Will he look

carefully at the ways in which he can help? The UK is the leading

centre of crowdfunding in the world. This can do so much especially for

winning in the developing world. Will he talked to people like the

Chancellor of the Exchequer to get some movement behind this? I

completely agree with you. He has been a long-term supporter of the

power of the crowd. If we get the regulation and technology right,

this is very stable. We have a manifesto commitment to developed

this. It is exactly what we're doing with the energy partnership which is

looking crowdfunding partnerships in Africa. Would he agree that

institutions that promote the conservation of Endangered Species

Act should be promoted? Yes. Well making sure that small local

enterprises can be promoted, what funds can he give that those funds

don't find their way into the hands of larger international condom Ritz?

--, Blom rates. - conglomerates. We know that most

sustainable jobs come from small and medium-sized organisations. That is

what we will concentrate on. My honourable friend will know that

this is enormously important. Inclusive growth is a central pillar

of our framework going forward. We expect that our support over the

next seven years would mobilise finance to over 200 SMEs, many of

which will be headed by women. Small businesses are now facing an

upsurge in ethnic violence with foreign fighters coming in from the

web dev. Can I urge the Minister, as he undertakes the bilateral aid

review, to look again at our decision to leave the room date in

2011 and to look very carefully at the potential need to go back in

there and have a presence on the ground?

I share the honourable Lady's concern about the situation and we

should be aware that we don't have a bilateral programme there but we do

a lot in terms of humanitarian support. I take onboard fully about

her remark on the cost of capital to smaller organisations. I refer back

to Mike's pretty offensive or technology can help us reduce that.

Question four. I congratulate the people on their historic elections

which were actually supported by a British funded trained observers.

That is an important step towards greater democracy and the UK will

support inclusive support in Burma, support improvements to the business

climate, the financial sector, agricultural productivity and

diversified livelihoods and encourage more private sector

investment in infrastructure. In the wake of the amazing victory,

to my right honourable friend expend her what her department is doing to

increase the women representation in Burma, which has been dominated for

far too long by men and the military? Is absolutely right. In

fact, women face specific in Burma, did predominantly world economy,

largely access to finance, land, skills and credit. We are targeting

these issues and programmes that have helped for example to provide

affordable credit access for over 140,000 women, but we are also

looking at how we can help women move into other sectors such as

garments might affect her were often conditions and pay are better.

In assisting the Burmese nation and new regime with international

development, will the Minister assure that that's regime is aware

of the ongoing persecution of minorities in Burma, which needs to

be dealt with as the new nation state take shape?

We will of course be raising those issues. I think we know from so many

other parts of the world that governments that are successful are

inclusive in governments, with respect to minorities. I should also

tell the House that one of the pieces of work that will be underway

will be doubling our support for a governance project that is taking

place within the Burmese parliament, which has seen our clerk there in

recent years and we will be doubling up the number of clerks there to

help them and make sure their democracy can flourish as ours has.

Number five. It's completely inadequate, Mr Speaker, the demand

exceeds the supply by a factor of four times. 96% of the extracted

water fails World Health Organisation's safety standards.

A terrible situation, 26% of all diseases in Gaza are directly

associated with poor water supply. Clean water is limited to 70 L per

person per day and this will fall drastically over the coming years.

And according to the UN, the underground coastal Apple fire will

be unusable by 2016. What can be done about this? Is a just a case of

lifting that Israeli blockade and getting on with life?

We are currently spending some 600,000 euros on a project to assist

with the desalination and there are funds available through our climate

change funds for long-term solution to this problem. But Mr Speaker, the

level of investment and the marshalling of the factors of

production will require a long-term peace process to be viable.

Full. The honourable member speaks about the blockade, but surely if

they did not embrace Hamas, if they did not continue a file rockets into

Israel, they wouldn't need to be a blockade in the first place?

Mr Speaker, we were continually with both sides to ease the economic

edition sent to bring about a settlement.

Natalie McGarry. Not here. Stephen Phillips. Number seven.

Mr Speaker, it is one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, 80% of

the lemons 21 million people are in need of assistance and the United

Kingdom is playing its part, we have committed some ?75 million and we

are the fourth largest owner. Thank you very much, I am grateful

to my honourable friend for the answer. I wonder if you could update

the House as to what role the United Kingdom Government is playing to

help bring about a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Yemen.

I think my honourable friend for that. Peace talks began today and

yesterday a cease-fire commenced. I would urge all parties to observe

the cease-fire. Her Majesty's ambassador are in the margins of the

conference, peace conference, affording what assistance they can.

I welcome all the efforts that have been made by the Government,

including the cease-fire. But the real problem is getting aid into

Yemen. What can we do to raise the blockade?

We have invested ?1.7 million in the UN vessel investigation mechanism. I

hope that that will have a quantum effect on the number of vessels that

are able to dock in the ports, 60 last month, 55 the month before. It

is getting better, but we are far short of what is necessary.

My right honourable friend will no doubt be aware of the recent reports

by Save the Children which highlighted the devastating impact

of the conference does not conflict on the medical facilities in Yemen,

some 69 hospitals destroyed or damaged by the end of October. What

can the Government do in the interim to assure they are dissuaded from

targeting medical facilities? My right honourable friend is

absolutely right, that report is being scrutinised and investigated.

We are calling on all confidence to observe international law. My right

honourable friend the Secretary of State made this very forcefully in

his recent visit. Following that reply, does the

Minister agree that there is an overwhelming case for United Nations

human rights Council which has referenced humanitarian laws and 17

times to call for an investigation into breaches of international

humanitarian law in Yemen? Mr Speaker, we supported the

resolution. Mr Speaker, the conflict in Yemen

has seen 6000 dead and 30,000 injured. The World Health

Organisation is saying that health services are on the bridge of

collapse. As it was world universal Health Service coverage day

yesterday will he today commit to help rebuilding their crippled

system? We have already committed ?75

million to this, the worst crisis in the world. I do give that

commitment. We are already planning for the Beacon search in of Yemen.

-- helping build up Yemen. What about the concern reports from

Amnesty International and others that British made weapons sold to

Saudi Arabia are being used in the conflict in breach of human rights

laws? The United Kingdom has the toughest

standards for the export of weapons. The honourable leader should be

aware that the Coalition is acting in support of the legitimate

Government of Yemen after an illegal coup by an armed... Force.

For a moment about the honourable gentleman was going to be inaudible,

which is pretty rare. Topical questions.

Thank you Mr Speaker. Since the last session, at welcome the news that

Sierra Leone's a beloved -- of outbreak is officially over. My

thanks go to all across the Government, the Armed Forces and

NGOs who helped save an estimated 56,000 lives. For my written

minister in 2012, we are on track to enter traditional age programme to

India by the end of this year, shifting to a relationship based on

technical relationships and investment. I became the first

development minister last month to chair a meeting of the UN Security

Council in New York discussing the crisis in Syria and the importance

of development, delivering peace and security.

Britain has a lot to be proud of in its international developments

pending, but does the Minister agree with me that some rural states

continue to undermine the UK's good efforts in the third World. Does she

agree that Qatar should be stripped of the World Cup because there will

be more migrant third World workers slaughtered there in the run-up to

the World Cup and there will actually be professional footballers

playing their? Well, I am sure those people running

the show will have been hurt his points very clearly. He will be

aware that some of the work that we do is in terms of improving workers'

conditions. Mr Foster, your moment has arrived.

Given the vital... You given the vital importance of rebuilding

reprocess -- rebuilding process in Syria, what discussions is the

department having with our international partners in what

financial commitments have been made to develop a long-term plan for

this? He will be aware as my right

honourable friend the prime Mr signalled that the UK has pledged at

least ?1 million to Syria's reconstruction and we are already

updating our of the sting planning for reconstruction programmes with

donors with the expertise of the UN and international financial

institutions in the private sector will be essential.

There is a lot of noise. Probably animated discussion about Christmas

shopping or the like, but we must hear the questions and answers.

On the question of Syria, how many Syrian refugees will the Government

help resettle in this country by Christmas?

The Prime Minister will be giving an update shortly on that, I think we

can be proud of the role that the United Kingdom has played, leading

the humanitarian response to the Syrian crisis and all the support we

have provided right from day one to refugees affected by this crisis.

Michael Tomlinson. What steps can the Secretary of State take to help

assess the Syrians displaced and neighbouring countries such as

Jordan, especially over the coming winter months?

This financial year we have provided nearly ?13 million to 11 partners

who are helping to prepare and respond to the onset of winter

across Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. That will help provide warm

clothing, blankets, fuel and cash to vulnerable families.

Karen Smith. 2 million series children live in areas that are

beyond the area of humanitarian assistance. In the late of recent

strikes, what action is she taking to reach these desperate children?

We are constantly working with UN agencies and NGOs to improve our

axis within Syria. We estimate there is probably around half a million

people, including children, that we cannot reach, but we will try our

level best to make sure that we maintain our existing network, reach

into those areas as fighting stops. James Morris.

With the Secretary of State agree with me that she, her department has

got a vital role to play in the livery on the UK's Government

commitments in the climate change conference agreements last week?

Absolutely. We have been scaling up or renewable energy work in Africa,

expanding the provision of climate risk in vulnerable countries, but we

are also supporting increased investment in low carbon

technologies and clean energy research.

Does she agree that noting the continual loss in life in Syria,

Iraq these central African Republican the escalated situation

that the Government would benefit from applying a mass atrocity

prevention lands in order to do policy?

She may be aware that in our recent published a strategy, we committed

to invest around 50% of our investment in so-called fragile

areas, precisely because we need you recognise that it is not just about

dealing with conflict after this happened, witty to do work to help

prevent conflict to deal with fragility prior to issues taking

place that cause huge distress. Could be right honourable lady tell

the House, Church apartment has spent on humanitarian existence in

Syria in neighbouring countries receiving Syrian refugees in the

last two years? Over the course of the entire

department, we have provided now around ?1.1 billion, our biggest

ever response to any humanitarian crisis. Half of that has been inside

Syria, around half of its of 40 people in the region, clearly there

are now 4.4 million refugees outside of Syria. It is vital that this work

continues and will continue to lead. Following the report for the

Department for International Development by the University of

Sussex, what does the Minister consider to the be main risks close

to the most-favored-nation low-income countries from the

transatlantic trade and investment partnership?

Our aid policy is not only helping to improve the prospects and the

lives of millions of people in poverty around the world, it is also

in our national interest as well. I have just talked about what we are

doing and how it is important in terms of UK security and

international security, it is also important in terms of prosperity and

those international rules that he talks about can be a key way in

which we see prosperity enabled through allowing freer trade that

can help developing countries trade their way out of a dependents.

What my right honourable friend tell the House what different are doing

to stop the problem with malaria in the north of Uganda and which I'm

going to visit in the new year and a note if it is working hard there,

but that she tell the House what it is?

We have got a range of programmes, including in Uganda, that it helps

to do the very important intervention of provision and we

have seen over the last 15 years that the deaths from malaria has

fallen by two thirds, important to cause in some countries 40% of their

health Budget goes purely on responding to malaria.

Is the Secretary of State aware of the recent arrest in the lowering of

two men for having consensual sex? Will the Government make urgent

representations to them allowing the Government actually the cause of the

UN ambassador calling for them to live up in their international human

rights obligations and make sure these charges are dropped? We will

be making representation. She is absolutely right to flag that up as

a key area of human rights that needs to be addressed, wherever it

takes place. Questions to the Prime Minister.

We all watched his exciting take-off yesterday and is the first Briton to

visit the International Space Station it signals a landmark in

this country's involvement in space exploration. I'm proud the

government took the decision to fund it and we wish him the best of luck.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and