Live International Development Questions House of Commons


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round-up of the day from both Houses of Parliament at 11 o'clock tonight.

:00:00.:00:00.

First questions to the International Development Secretary, Justhne

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Greening, and her team of mhnisters. The Secretary of State to

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international development. Thank you. Before I answer question one,

:00:17.:00:23.

can I offer my own voice to the many tributes that have been madd to Jo

:00:24.:00:29.

Cox in this place question H speak to the whole development colmunity

:00:30.:00:34.

when I say she was incredibly impressive in this House. Wd worked

:00:35.:00:40.

together on Syria. Today shd should have been asking topical qudstion

:00:41.:00:43.

number five. I believe the house is a much poorer place that we will not

:00:44.:00:49.

hear from her today. Can I `lso welcome the shadow front bench team

:00:50.:00:53.

and the Shadow Secretary of State into her role and wish her well in

:00:54.:00:59.

that? We very much welcome working through the global fund. We have

:01:00.:01:05.

helped as the country to kedp 8 6 million people live with HIV therapy

:01:06.:01:10.

and distributed musky tenets. We have treated TB and other third

:01:11.:01:20.

largest funder. -- mosquito nets. As you can see, from my entry hn the

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register of members interest, last summer I visited Zambia. I saw for

:01:28.:01:34.

myself the excellent work that the global fund investment is m`king,

:01:35.:01:40.

especially regarding TB, HIV coinfection. Will the minister do

:01:41.:01:45.

everything possible to ensure the replenishment target of $13 million

:01:46.:01:53.

is met as a minimum? Yes, wd well. We think global fund is a novel but

:01:54.:01:57.

powerful model, to be able to deliver improvements on AIDS, TB and

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malaria and we want to see ht do better. It needs to focus on

:02:04.:02:06.

delivering value for money but will be playing our role lobbying other

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governments and organisations to continue supporting it. Can I

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specifically press the Secrdtary of State on whether she accepts the

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case of a 20% increase in contribution from the UK to the

:02:22.:02:26.

global fund? That is somethhng the global fund has asked us to

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contemplate doing. That is `lready being repeated in a number of other

:02:31.:02:35.

countries. Might she also t`kes the opportunity to make a speech on the

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continuing crisis on HIV and AIDS worldwide? That is important.

:02:41.:02:50.

Following the multilateral @IDS review, we are talking about the

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replenishment. We need other countries and other players to

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provide support alongside the UK. It is important that we also show

:02:58.:03:03.

leadership ourselves. Beford I ask my question, could I just express

:03:04.:03:08.

our solidarity with the people in Istanbul who were involved hn the

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bomb last night? The question of the cap is a bizarre, self limitation.

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If Britain wants to give 1.2 billion to the global fund, why do we set a

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cap that stops us doing it? It has been done to incentivise others and

:03:28.:03:32.

to be clear that this band will work best if supported by a broad base of

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donors. While we have always been key supporters of the global fund,

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it is important that a country like the UK does not let up on

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challenging other players, other countries, to play their roles. We

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are a strong supporter of development can be proud of the work

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we are doing but we want to see other countries following otr lead

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and not lagging behind. I would first like to congratulate the

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Secretary of State for coming out over the weekend and I look forward

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to future exchanges across the dispatch box. The global fund to

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punish the conference has bden taking place in September. ,-

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replenishment conference will be taking place. It extremely hmportant

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and is concerned with finance in tackling global TB. Without

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commitment, we will not realise the targets. When exactly is thd UK

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going to commit to the glob`l fund? We will be making an announcement

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following the multilateral `id review being published. I c`n assure

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her there are two things to focus on the one making sure the global fund

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of that is strong, to persu`de countries to invest in it and

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secondly having a smart invdstment strategy ourselves as we have done

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in the past to encourage other countries to join us. I just want to

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echo my thoughts, as well. The global fund has a remarkabld record

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for having saved over 70 million lives and treated over 30 mhllion

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people for TB. Notwithstandhng this, donors from Canada, to Italx and

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Japan, have increased their contributions to the fund bx over

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20% respectively. Will the Secretary of State ensure the UK also

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increases its contribution? We will finally announce that we ard doing

:05:30.:05:34.

on the punishment before and after the multilateral aid review. We are

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very keen to see if successful replenishment for the global fund.

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That is something our country has aborted for a number of years. When

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you look at the progress on malaria, TB and AIDS, it is clear we need to

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keep our foot on the pedal hn terms of eradicating these diseasds. They

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are holding countries back from developing. Question number two I

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want to associate myself with the remarks about Istanbul. Over a

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quarter of a million Burundhans have fled their country since 2005. We

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remain very concerned about their well-being, which is why we are the

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second largest bilateral donor to the regional refugee appeal. My

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honourable friend will be aware of reports over recent months of

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Burundi and refugees being followed over the border into camps `nd

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attacked by those they have tried to flee from, often punishing remaining

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family members or silence those with stories of abuse. What is the

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Government doing to offer stpport to authorities and NGOs offering

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refugee camp in Rwanda and handling and neighbouring countries to make

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sure those fleeing people are safe? We are aware of those reports. I

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have spoken to a number of Burundi and refugees. We have made ht very

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clear that we expect them to protect all refugees. In round we h`ve

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funded them to provide additional protection. In the camp will stop

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may I also support what was said about Jo Cox. We will miss her

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today. Could defeat all the Foreign Office come to the house with a full

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statement on the crisis and how we can address it? I'm sure both

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departments will listen to that carefully. We are extremely

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concerned about the situation. The African minister and the Foreign

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Office are in regular contact about what he is doing on the diplomatic

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front on what we are doing hn terms of planning contingencies in the

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case of an escalation of thd humanitarian crisis. Young people

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from specific communities are being taken from their homes, killed,

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tortured and then killed. Wd have a deep crisis in Burundi, president in

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denial, who to accept the v`lidity of the peace process. Could I ask my

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honourable friend what the TK Government can do to encour`ge other

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neighbouring African countrhes to take this matter even more seriously

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than they appeared to be dohng at the moment? I share his concern and

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passion for this situation. Can I assure him that is the African

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minister and I were extremely close the countries which have influenced

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as well as making sure we are in the right position to do the right thing

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in terms of providing support for the Burindian people. Can I also

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associate myself with the comments made by the Secretary of St`te, the

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Shadow Secretary of State, `nd in particular with regards to showing

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solidarity with Turkey? In 2012 the UK Government closed the office in

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Burundi despite the escalathon of economic turmoil in the country

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These elections were identified as a key possible flash point for future

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violence by many NGOs and indeed the international developer and select

:09:17.:09:21.

committee who criticised thd decision to close the officd. As a

:09:22.:09:25.

refugee crisis in Burundi escalates, can the minister assure me that we

:09:26.:09:33.

have clear and effective me`sures to assure we identify where crhses may

:09:34.:09:36.

occur and are fully able to react and respond to them? Yes, I think I

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can give the honourable gentleman that assurance. This issue with

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glowing red on our radar screen Sometimes. We are the second largest

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regional donor, bilateral donor to the regional appeal. We havd

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contingency plans in place. We have announced an additional ?50 million

:09:59.:10:00.

to support Tanzania in their preparedness for an escalathon and

:10:01.:10:04.

we have released money and technical expertise to be deployed in Burundi

:10:05.:10:11.

to support an escalation of the humanitarian crisis. Mr Spe`ker an

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additional ?200 million has been supplied to respond to the hmpact of

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El Nino related climate shocks in Africa. Over 4 million people have

:10:28.:10:35.

already been supported in Africa. The current drought in Africa is

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affecting millions of peopld and is expected to continue till November

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and passably beyond. If the rains do come, there will be a gap for

:10:44.:10:48.

families across the region while we wait to see if there is anything to

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harvest. What steps is the Government taking out to make sure

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food and other essentials are ready to be delivered then, if it becomes

:10:56.:10:59.

necessary? Tanzania can I thank the honourable

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lady for throwing a spotlight on an underfunded and other reporters

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humanitarian crisis. The UK has shown genuine leadership in making

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large amount of funding avahlable, ?200 million in the last ye`r. We

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are reviewing what more can be done and speaking to the other donors in

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the international community to encourage them to do more and as

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well as working with local governments such as in Ethiopia to

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make sure they play their p`rt as well.

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Can I congratulate DFiD for their support to Ethiopia. On a rdcent

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visit to that country I learned of the work being carried out `nd also

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the funding gap in the support programme. I also learned there is a

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need for donors to be there on a long-term basis because these

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problems will not go away. Can I ask the minister if he will redouble his

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efforts to bring in more donor countries and make sure thex are

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there for the medium to long-term? I can reassure my honourabld friend

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and I thank them for as little. I should place on record our respect

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and recognition for the work of the Ethiopian Government in makhng

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domestic resources, $700 million, available to be part of this

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response. In many instances charitabld

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institutions are doing great work in trying to provide clean and

:12:37.:12:41.

plentiful water supplies in sub-Saharan Africa, are logging of

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those nations to produce food on a much greater basis. What has been

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done to supplement our efforts to help these countries do this? We are

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proud of our efforts with NGOs in many areas and making sure people

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have access to clean water `nd sanitation. We have a manifdsto

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commitments L 60 million people achieve that. A large amount of ?200

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million funding has been to support people access the most basic

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services. But the minister acknowledgd climate

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change is having a huge imp`ct on food security in the region? Can he

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say particularly what effort his department is looking at thd issue

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of fish stocks, which many people in the region depends upon?

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She is quite right that we lust factor in climate change because, on

:13:41.:13:49.

our assessment, there is a 75% probability of a further storm

:13:50.:13:55.

following El Nino. So we must plan for the future and build anx greater

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resilience so these countrids are better protected in the futtre. --

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and the greater resilience. Then a associate the SNP and benches

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with the good which is extended to the secretary of state and `lso

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welcome the new Labour spokdspersons of the post. Robbie Minister

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recognise the role of faith organisations in these development

:14:25.:14:31.

areas and what steps hesitating to support such organisations hn the

:14:32.:14:35.

responding to food crises? The key thing is to act early and

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decisively and we have made a lot of money available and that thd early,

:14:41.:14:44.

which is critical to be cost-effective and fundamental to

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our approach is working through other organisations which includes

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the best NGOs who are passionate about providing services. Qtestion

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number four, Mr Speaker. I'm not sure I caught that puestion,

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actually. The reviews will dnsure we allocate our budget in the right

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places and the ways based on solid evidence, translating our UK aid

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strategy into a delivery pl`n that an ambitious in tackling poverty and

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delivering value for money. That is in the UK national interest. We plan

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to publish the outcome of the bilateral and multilateral...

:15:27.:15:33.

Reviews in the summer. I also congratulate the secretary of state

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in a recent announcement. Any time of political uncertainty surely this

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should not be delayed any ftrther so can I ask what impact she thinks

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Brexit will specifically have? Predominantly, part of our work has

:15:50.:15:52.

been through the European development fund so what is now

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underway to understand wherd the end point is on Brexit and also the

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transition plan in the meantime That is underway but I should also

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emphasised overwhelmingly what work is not through that developlent fund

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and therefore that is unaffdcted. I am proud of our international aid

:16:14.:16:18.

record but we must take the public with us. If the targets werd to

:16:19.:16:22.

apply over a longer period, therefore a longing for anntal

:16:23.:16:27.

variations, taxpayers could have the greatest possible comfort they are

:16:28.:16:31.

seeing value for money? I think value for money comds from

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how we take decisions and monitor the impact. And less from how we

:16:36.:16:40.

stuck to the budget. We havd a commitment to deliver 0.7% of our

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GDP invested in internation`l development every year and we will

:16:46.:16:52.

stick to that. Would be secretary of state gave the

:16:53.:16:56.

assurance to the house that following the withdrawal of our

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overseas aid portion through the EU, our absolute percentage we spend on

:17:04.:17:07.

the world's poorest people will be maintained?

:17:08.:17:12.

This Government came in a m`nifesto to maintain this 0.7% commitment. It

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was brought in and achieved under a coalition government, reallx a

:17:19.:17:22.

legislated for it and we st`nd by it.

:17:23.:17:26.

-- we legislated for it. Nulber five.

:17:27.:17:32.

We support projects that brhng Palestinians and Israelis together.

:17:33.:17:36.

We have made provision for funding through our conflict security and

:17:37.:17:41.

stability fund to support coexistence projects. I am keen to

:17:42.:17:47.

identify what more we can do. As I'm asking my question in the

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slot number five which would have been taken by Jo Cox and I `lso add

:17:53.:17:58.

attributes of her excellent work in this area. Can Mike right honourable

:17:59.:18:02.

friend sell the house white does his department think it is a good use of

:18:03.:18:06.

taxpayer money to continue to support the Palestinian authority?

:18:07.:18:12.

I agree with my honourable friend about Jo Cox. The reason we think it

:18:13.:18:18.

is a good idea to support them as it delivers essential public sdrvices,

:18:19.:18:24.

not the health care and educating 770,000 pupils. I believe it is in

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our national interest to buhld of Palestinian institutions so that in

:18:31.:18:37.

a future Palestinian state the can be a reliable and effective partner

:18:38.:18:43.

for peace. I endorse the tributes made to the

:18:44.:18:50.

work of Jo Cox. For the work you don't want peace in Israel `nd

:18:51.:18:55.

Palestine. With the Minister jointly in recognising the commitment to...

:18:56.:19:05.

For Israelis to speak out that uncomfortable truths. Veter`ns

:19:06.:19:11.

breaking -- speaking out ag`inst the reality of division police lapping

:19:12.:19:17.

settlements that undermines the chance of a two state soluthon?

:19:18.:19:23.

Yes, and I am concerned abott any closing of space for any

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non-government organisations. I will call the honourable gentleman

:19:28.:19:34.

if he undertakes to ask a short question.

:19:35.:19:42.

Can my honourable friend ex`mine Save A Child's Art? And unddrtaken

:19:43.:19:50.

by the Israeli Government to help Palestinian children.

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This organisation was originally brought to my attention and my

:19:53.:19:55.

officials are conducting dud diligence. Topical questions.

:19:56.:20:09.

Topical question number two. Alongside visiting refugee camps and

:20:10.:20:17.

Kenya I headed the UK deleg`tion at the world humanitarian summht where

:20:18.:20:20.

we helped secure widespread agreement for the need for reform of

:20:21.:20:25.

the humanitarian system and committed ?30 million of support to

:20:26.:20:29.

a joint education fund in emergencies to ensure low child

:20:30.:20:34.

misses on education. Our colmitment to international development is and

:20:35.:20:38.

will continue to be in our international interest as wdll as

:20:39.:20:44.

the right thing to do. We have UK advisers in refugee camps

:20:45.:20:48.

in Europe and I hope they whll remain. Can the Minister tell me

:20:49.:20:53.

what steps the Department is taking to ensure we have the best people

:20:54.:20:59.

and will the Minister would ensue a teach first style scheme so we get

:21:00.:21:02.

the best graduates doing thhs essential work?

:21:03.:21:07.

But is working with Greece, Turkey and others in Europe and eight first

:21:08.:21:13.

UK team had arrived in Greece which includes experts that might ask

:21:14.:21:21.

first UK team. It includes dxperts from various fields. She rahses an

:21:22.:21:25.

interesting point I will take that up with my colleagues.

:21:26.:21:36.

Devon at the overseas development Institute called the mistress and

:21:37.:21:39.

presentation -- misrepresentation of the grant of Palestine will he

:21:40.:21:43.

confirm that Palestinian aid is for all the legitimate purposes and is

:21:44.:21:47.

central to peace building in the region?

:21:48.:21:49.

I believe the region? I belheve it is right and as my honourable friend

:21:50.:21:53.

set out the work we're doing is helping provide not only he`lth

:21:54.:21:58.

facilities to people in that area but also, critically, education for

:21:59.:22:04.

children who are so badly nded it. Order. Order! There are a lot of

:22:05.:22:09.

very noisy private conversations taking place. It is very destructive

:22:10.:22:16.

to the secretary of state, this copy to members -- discourteous. I rather

:22:17.:22:23.

doubt it does much good but the reputation of the house. If people

:22:24.:22:29.

were chatting away privatelx could stop doing the sort that wotld help.

:22:30.:22:37.

Alberto Costa. Tanzania saw great progress against

:22:38.:22:40.

the millennium development goals but there are areas of the country which

:22:41.:22:45.

still lack access to basic services such as water. I am grateful the

:22:46.:22:51.

secretary of State may of the Council Louise Richards in the

:22:52.:22:55.

county, and how they are working with Tanzania on these vital areas.

:22:56.:23:02.

I appreciate the time his local council took with me to discuss the

:23:03.:23:07.

work she has been involved hn an DFiD at helping Tanzania improved

:23:08.:23:14.

access to clean water in rural areas and water access sustainability We

:23:15.:23:18.

also have a strong focus on improving electricity access, of

:23:19.:23:22.

great energy solutions and hmproving rule of road infrastructure.

:23:23.:23:30.

-- off great energy solutions. Russia join me in welcoming the

:23:31.:23:35.

appointment of the new -- voltage on join me in welcoming the appointment

:23:36.:23:39.

of the new Scottish Governmdnt minister for development. Whll she

:23:40.:23:43.

make a meeting with Doctor @lan a priority, giving she never let his

:23:44.:23:46.

predecessor? I regularly visit our joint

:23:47.:23:51.

headquarter others in East Kilbride and obviously the Scottish

:23:52.:23:55.

development programme, which much focuses on Malawi, is one wd work

:23:56.:23:59.

alongside and I would be very happy to have a meeting with the new

:24:00.:24:06.

minister in that role. Encouraging business growth in

:24:07.:24:09.

developing countries has got poverty and created new markets for British

:24:10.:24:13.

exports. Can the secretary of state at the house as to what the

:24:14.:24:18.

Government is doing to help entrepreneurs in developing

:24:19.:24:19.

countries? My honourable friend is right. We

:24:20.:24:22.

end dependency through creating jobs. It has doubled our bilateral

:24:23.:24:31.

work on growth and trading entrepreneurship through ushng the

:24:32.:24:36.

cost of the of doing business. - using the cost of doing bushness.

:24:37.:24:45.

Gathering the money given to the Governor of Sri Lanka for its human

:24:46.:24:50.

rights, can the secretary of state give a commitment heard dep`rtment

:24:51.:24:54.

will make the strongest representation to ensure rancour

:24:55.:25:01.

that will peace bridge inst`llation without the -- strongest

:25:02.:25:06.

representation without acknowledgement of the trains

:25:07.:25:16.

carried out. It is a definite point. Can the secretary of state tpdate

:25:17.:25:19.

the house and what she's dohng to bring economic empowerment of women,

:25:20.:25:22.

especially in the world's poorest countries? What a very important

:25:23.:25:29.

question. I am proud to be ` member of the Secretary General UN high

:25:30.:25:33.

level panel and women's economic empowerment which will report in

:25:34.:25:38.

September. That is central to DFiD work and since 2011 we have helped

:25:39.:25:44.

2.5 million women improve the rights and 35 million women access

:25:45.:25:46.

financial services. But fin`ncial independence comes a brother

:25:47.:25:53.

independence so this is vit`l. - with financial independence comes

:25:54.:25:59.

other independence. Even in the UK adverse childhood experiencd is the

:26:00.:26:05.

main cause of adverse outcoles in families and this is much worse in

:26:06.:26:11.

developing countries. We'll be secretary of state look at ` package

:26:12.:26:15.

to include mentoring, parenting and show developments, as well `s the

:26:16.:26:19.

other work the department does? He will be out where we very mtch focus

:26:20.:26:24.

on children unnecessary the accelerator response. -- on children

:26:25.:26:35.

in our survey response. Mentoring, psychosocial support, counsdlling,

:26:36.:26:40.

all of this must be in placd to help children get through situathons that

:26:41.:26:44.

would be hard for most adults, let alone small children. Questhons to

:26:45.:26:46.

the Prime Minister. Thank you. I know the House will

:26:47.:27:00.

enjoy me in condemning the terrorist attacks in Turkey last night. Our

:27:01.:27:04.

thoughts and prayers are with those who were killed and those who were

:27:05.:27:09.

injured. There are no reports of any UK casualties but the Foreign Office

:27:10.:27:12.

are working with the authorhties to establish the full facts. I spoke to

:27:13.:27:18.

the President this morning to express the UK's condolence,

:27:19.:27:20.

detailseses are still emerghng but we stand as one in our defi`nce

:27:21.:27:25.

against these barbaric act, this week marks the sensory of the battle

:27:26.:27:29.

of the Somme there will be ` two minute silence on Friday morning. I

:27:30.:27:36.

will attend a service at thd memorial near the battlefield and

:27:37.:27:38.

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