Live International Development Questions House of Commons


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allocation for the NHS. There will be a round-up of today's activities

:00:00.:00:00.

in Parliament to night, but first, Priti Patel and her team. Order,

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order. Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development.

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Secretary Priti Patel. UK development assistance has helped to

:00:27.:00:37.

reduce property in tragic Stan. DfID work has delivered important

:00:38.:00:41.

investments and managed public reforms. I'm grateful for that

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information. On a recent visit there, I saw what was being done,

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but could she update us as to when projects will get signed off? I

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thank my honourable friend for his question. The Minister of State is

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overseeing new programming focused on economic development and details

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of that will be published in due course. Importantly as well, central

:01:18.:01:28.

Asia and the surrounding area has an important strategic place in

:01:29.:01:41.

delivering alp commitments. It's a country that is at risk from climate

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change which could risk threatening all the good work that has been done

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with this part of ten one crime -- DfID's gum.

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-- programme. DfID approach will produce greater economic stability

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in the long run. With your permission I will take questions

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numbered two and number four together. The assessment of the

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department in line with long-standing British government

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policy is that demolitions are illegal under international

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humanitarian law and undermine the credibility and the viability of a

:02:34.:02:44.

two state solution. The Bedouin village lies under threat from

:02:45.:02:48.

demolition. Demolitions in the occupied territories in the first

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two weeks of January or almost four times higher than at this time last

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year. What support is being given to those people driven out of their

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homes and what message is further being sent to the Israeli government

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that such demolitions are unviable? The honourable member raises two

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important points. The first is long-standing and we continue to

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lobby the Israeli government to stop undertaking these demolitions. They

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are illegal and undermine the two state initiative. The Foreign

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Minister had a meeting just before Christmas and raised the issue

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demolitions directly with him. Will the Minister confirm that NGOs

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operating will continue to receive support? They will and we want to

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invest in health and obligation. It's having opportunity and hope for

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Palestinians that will hopefully lead to a resolution in this

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conflict. Many demolitions occur because it's virtually impossible

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for Palestinians to get a building permit. What legal support can be

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government -- can the Department provide? The Foreign Office has done

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projects supplying support. It is difficult to receive planning

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permission which is one of the reasons why these settlements are up

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and demolition then takes place. Among the demolitions that the

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Israeli authorities undertake there are some community facilities some

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of which are funded and developed by money from his own department. So I

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would welcome the Minister's statement, but we need action rather

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than words and has the time come to actually send Benjamin Netanyahu the

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bill for structures funded by the British taxpayer? At the moment the

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European Union has not decided to seek compensation. Will the Minister

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confirm that DfID notwithstanding the efforts of eight senior Israeli

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diplomat to take down the Minister will continue to fight against

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collective punishment, demolitions and the expansion of the illegal

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settlements? I think we are conflating two different issues

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here. As the Foreign Secretary said yesterday the Israeli ambassador has

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already apologised for that incident. That diplomat has been

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removed from his post as an home. In terms of the overall questions of

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settlements and demolitions I think I have dealt with that in my answers

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to the other questions. I would like to ban the Minister for his

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responses, but I would like to minister to be a bit more clever and

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tell us how DfID has supported those people who are now homeless due to

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the systematic policy of settlement expansion? The central story on what

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DfID is doing is that we are doing three types of things for

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Palestinian people. We are supporting state structures, in

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particular health and education, doctors, teachers and nurses. We're

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working to get a viable economy and employment created to support two

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particularly small businesses and thirdly we invest in human capital,

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making sure Palestinian people are educated, healthy and have the

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opportunities for security and stability in the region in the

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long-term -- short-term, but in the long term there cannot be a two

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state solution unless we address the issues regarding the Palestinian

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people. What has happened developer is a tragedy and underlines the

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raging's Kallis tactics. -- Kallis tactics. We do all can to support

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civilians and to ensure they can receive the desperate aid that they

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need. The UK are committed to ?510 million support at the London Syria

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conference last year. And I ask the Secretary of State if she is on

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course to hit that target? Importantly, this gives me the

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chance to restate the house the British government's commitment to

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Syria. We have supported the Pledge of 510 million from the conference

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last year. The United Kingdom can be proud of its support, but we have

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ensured that humanitarian supplies a focus for the region has been the

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right support and we have used our international convening powers to

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work with others globally to ensure we can do everything we can to

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support Syria and the region. At the world humanitarian summit in

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Istanbul last year the United Kingdom permitted to the centrality

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of protection as a fundamental principle. Camber secretary of State

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tell us how that has guided DfID approach to Aleppo on what we can

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learn from the tragedy of Aleppo for future civilian protection. My

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honourable friend makes an important point in terms of the summit last

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year. It's about how humanitarian communities can come together and

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work together. There are a number of lessons, both in terms of agencies

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working together. The pooling of resources, making sure governments

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across the world are working together strategically as well in

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terms of resource allocation, but also in terms of convening power and

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how we can challenge governments where they are inflicting harm and

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causing the grief that they are and the devastation that they have been

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as well and making sure we stand shoulder to shoulder in how we

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tackle the situation. People give to singing for Syrians because they

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know the money they donate will be spent on prosthetic limbs in Aleppo.

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What more can the Secretary of State do to make sure that the money is

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spent in the region and not wasted on advocacy? Can I commend my

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honourable friend is on the worksheet is doing. -- work she is

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doing. In terms of specifically making sure the money is not wasted

:10:16.:10:23.

and it goes to the region, it's through our trusted partners who

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help us to measure the outcomes. The Secretary of State is already

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talking about Aleppo in the past tense. Besiege med is still

:10:40.:10:44.

happening right now. The British government can do more, so can I ask

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what representation she has made to the Foreign Secretary about

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The honourable lady is right. The situation, not just in Aleppo but

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Syria over all, is beyond com pretension. In terms of

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representations which each specific name refers to, the Warren Secretary

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and I work hand-in-hand in terms of international working together, the

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work we do and Syria, when it comes to calling for greater collaboration

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and access to humanitarian groups, that is what the governorate is

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doing. It is the work of government to provide those representations

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behind-the-scenes. Before the war, Aleppo had Syria's largest

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populations of Christians. 90% of them have now fled. A bulge what --

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a world watch list will be released that we show the key drivers of

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migration. What will be done to help the persecuted Christians of Aleppo?

:11:53.:11:56.

She is right to raise the plight of persecuted Christians, especially in

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the context of Syria and Aleppo. In terms of what we can do, it is not

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just our Department but the Government as a whole making sure

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that it is known that the persecution of religious minorities

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is not acceptable. We need to ensure that we work collaboratively across

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the world with other donor countries and other countries as well to make

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that case. Following the announcement that the Department

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would be using drones to drop supplies, how can go technology be

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used to deliver humanitarian aid in Aleppo and other parts of Syria? I

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thank him for his question. He is right to highlight that we have been

:12:50.:12:54.

innovating and looking at new technology in terms of aid provision

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via drones. There is a lot of work taking place in this space and I am

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conscious that this House has had a number of debates about other ways

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of delivering humanitarian assistance, particularly in besieged

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areas. Specifically and within the context of Syria, there is work

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taking place, there had been discussions and I can assure the

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House that this is an issue that we are pursuing actively, not just in

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the Department but across the Government. The Secretary of State's

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heart is in the right place, as we know, but the fact is that at this

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moment in Aleppo and other cities, the greatest humanitarian

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catastrophe of modern times is taking place today. Is it not right

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that we now admit there is precious little that we in the liberal West

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can do to help the appalling circumstances in Aleppo unless we

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have the support of the knighted nations and Russia? -- the United

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Nations. He makes an important point about in terms of what the

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Government can do, we must never lose sight of the fact that we are

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leading in humanitarian assistance and support. There are people in

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desperate need and it is the right focus that we have interns are

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giving them all of the necessary support. The other point is

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diplomacy. We need to carry on putting on pressure but we make sure

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we use diplomacy as well to put pressure on where it is needed. I

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would like to focus on north-western Syria, the main target of government

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strikes or on civilians who have fled Aleppo. Can the Secretary of

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State how they are supporting the wounded and displaced civilians? The

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honourable lady, I thank her for her focus once again be humanitarian

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plight that is taking place inside Syria. In terms of the work that is

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taking place, there are extensive the monetarily and efforts in terms

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of relief, and shelter. I have had a lot of time working with all about

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agencies, we are supporting and funding them directly, to ensure

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that supplies are getting through. I also caveat the fact that the

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reality is that this is a challenging environment and climate

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and we're getting supplies through, but it is increasingly difficult to

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do so. Access to energy is a key prerequisite driver of economic

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bread and development. Over 620 million people in sub-Saharan Africa

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have no access to energy. The boat's poorest people -- the world's

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poorest people campaign much more than we do for our energy. That is

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why we are trying to provide on grid and of great energy supplies to over

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4.5 million of the world's most in need. I thank him for his answer. I

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know from my own business to Africa that providing access is absolutely

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crucial to economic growth and prosperity in Africa. Does he agree

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that the role of the CDC and their investment in Africa is one of the

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best opportunities are providing that? I absolutely agree, Mr

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Speaker. This CDC can play a key role. I'm glad the House is showing

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support for the work that they do. A good example is a company in which

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the CDC has a majority stake which will drive forward energy provision

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of 5000 megawatts in Africa. 1000 megawatts can support 800,000 jobs.

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That is a different it can make, and that is why we're doing it. The

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German government has called on the world back to focus all of its work

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on climate and sustainability targets and to put an end to

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investment in obsolete and climate damaging technologies. Given the

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World Bank is the largest recipient of UK aid for energy, will the

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Government follow Germany's example and use its influence to call and

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the World Bank to stop investing in fossil fuels? I have set out some of

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the reasons for which energy supplies are so important to drive

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development, it is also important that that energy supply is

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sustainable and environmentally friendly. In all of the project

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sweep issue, we seek for that to be the case, that includes with the

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discussions at the world Bank where we recognise the contribution that

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we make. It is a board and they work towards that agenda. Another six,

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sir. I thank him for this question. The sustainability of programmes is

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crucial and all about programmes are designed with sustainability in

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mind. When and where it does happen, we want to ensure that a positive

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legacy is left and they leave no one behind. So some of the most poor and

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vulnerable received the protections that they order be able to expect.

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The American government operate the global equality fund to make sure

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that marginalised groups are not left behind. Will my friend consider

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the UK in initiating a similar fund? My honourable friend is right.

:18:38.:18:43.

Marginalised groups are sometimes the most honourable. Rightly, we

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focus our efforts and attention on the poorest countries in the world

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with the largest known as people in the greatest need of support. But

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there are other that need support elsewhere. We need to be aware of

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that and make sure that we have a sustainable impact. I would like to

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have further discussions about the idea he's putting forward. In a

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recent review, the independent commission on aid impact said that

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no policy... The Department will always look at what we need to do to

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ensure sustainable and long-lasting transition and support programmes

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that need to be designed in that way. That runs through all of the

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decisions we make. We will continue to work in this area and we're happy

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to consider and look at further proposals for what might improve the

:19:43.:19:46.

of work that is done. Topical questions.

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UK aid health meet our obligations of the world's poorest, whether

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giving to Syrian refugees, access to water or creating jobs across

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Africa. This investment is also firmly in our interests since it

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tackles the route causes of global problems and focuses on delivering

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world-class programmes which deliver value for money for taxpayers. The

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Secretary of State has previously said she is looking at allocating

:20:24.:20:29.

funding to peaceful coexistence programmes, including one that

:20:30.:20:32.

brings Palestinians and Israelis together. Am I honourable friend

:20:33.:20:37.

update the House on this worthy project? I thank him for his

:20:38.:20:41.

question. I am pleased to confirm we are working on a range of

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programmes. They will support tangible improvements, as my

:20:49.:20:53.

honourable friend has already stepped. This programme is now in

:20:54.:20:56.

its final design phase and will be launched at the beginning of the

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financial year. Order. I understand the air of anticipation just before

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Prime Minister's Questions. Can I remind the House that we are

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discussing matters that affect the poorest people on the face of the

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planet and they should be treated with respect? The protection of

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civilians must remain our absolute priority in Aleppo. If we are to

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provide food, water, shelter and humanitarian relief to civilians who

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for four years have faced the horrors of an in humane war, we need

:21:29.:21:32.

to make sure that the ceasefire, although currently holding, remains

:21:33.:21:37.

more than a brief pause. Can the minister explain what efforts are

:21:38.:21:40.

being made to ensure that conflict does not reignite in Aleppo and what

:21:41.:21:44.

contingency plan the Department has in place to continue to provide aid

:21:45.:21:52.

for civilians? The honourable gentleman is right that the UK will

:21:53.:21:57.

do everything it can to support the current ceasefire and, importantly,

:21:58.:22:04.

safeguard humanitarian support in the region as well. That is down to

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our diplomatic tools and efforts. We need ensure that all agencies work

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together to provide the support that is required. No self respecting

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conservative believes that you should be judged on how much you

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spend on something. Spending a guaranteed amount of money each year

:22:24.:22:29.

on overseas aid leads to waste and excess, including the amount spent

:22:30.:22:34.

on consultants. When can we get back to some common sense and stops

:22:35.:22:37.

pending more on overseas aid every year when the money could be better

:22:38.:22:44.

spent at home? I thank my honourable friend for his question. Like all

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Conservatives, I too want to focus on making sure that every penny of

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taxpayers money goes to helping the poorest, and that is the commission

:22:53.:22:57.

about Department. At the same time, he will note that overseas

:22:58.:23:00.

development assistance saves lives and transforms lives. He

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specifically refers to spending on consultants. That is something that

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my Department is looking at right now and we are currently reviewing.

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The replies must be heard with courtesy. It is rather alarming when

:23:17.:23:20.

some of her own backbenchers are not according to the proper respect. She

:23:21.:23:28.

must be accorded that respect. Thank you very much. We receive much

:23:29.:23:33.

lobbying over the Israeli and Palestinian need for delivery on the

:23:34.:23:39.

ground, but what is the minister's assessment of the effect of

:23:40.:23:42.

terrorism and how difficult it makes to deliver on the ground to those

:23:43.:23:46.

who really need it, whether it is education or humanitarian aid? The

:23:47.:23:54.

honourable member makes a good point. We have talk about

:23:55.:23:58.

demolitions and settlements. The only long-term stability in that

:23:59.:24:01.

region requires protecting the security of Israel as an absolutely

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essential plank along with guaranteeing an independent,

:24:10.:24:12.

autonomous Palestinian state. The most sustainable aid is paid through

:24:13.:24:18.

trade. Will my right honourable friend therefore ensure that when we

:24:19.:24:22.

leave the European Union and the customs union, that we give top

:24:23.:24:27.

priority and free access to our markets to exports from the poorest

:24:28.:24:33.

countries? My honourable friend will note that our priority is of course

:24:34.:24:37.

economic development and making sure that, through our aid, we are

:24:38.:24:41.

delivering long-term sustainable economic development and prosperity

:24:42.:24:43.

in everything we do. He is also right to note that we are working

:24:44.:24:48.

across government as we leave the European Union to look at unilateral

:24:49.:24:52.

trade preferences and the work we can do to grow our trade footprint

:24:53.:24:59.

across the world. Unlike the honourable member opposite, we're

:25:00.:25:03.

the SNP except that data shows that last year the UK was one of the only

:25:04.:25:09.

six countries to meet the 0.7% aid target. This includes the Scottish

:25:10.:25:13.

Cup men's international aid fund. What assurances can be given that

:25:14.:25:16.

the Government's commitment to that target is unwavering and will

:25:17.:25:19.

continue to be fulfilled beyond the next election? We have been

:25:20.:25:25.

unequivocal in our commitment to 0.7%. On top of that, it is a

:25:26.:25:31.

manifesto commitment. The focus of my Department is to focus on poverty

:25:32.:25:35.

reduction and ensured that that money is spent to drive taxpayer

:25:36.:25:40.

value and deliver programmes to the poorest in the world. The honourable

:25:41.:25:48.

lady wanted to ask a question earlier, issue no longer inclined to

:25:49.:26:00.

do so? Thank you. This election amid the -- the select committee saw the

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amazing work done by CDC. Not only is it reducing energy for millions

:26:09.:26:11.

of people, it is creating a lot of jobs. Can we encourage them to do

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even more schemes like that? I thank the honourable lady for paying too

:26:18.:26:22.

good to the important role the CDC by bringing the rigour of the

:26:23.:26:25.

private sector with the genuine values of the public sector and we

:26:26.:26:33.

have shown the ability to provide hydro power that provides energy for

:26:34.:26:43.

millions of people. Will she be consider her Department's decision

:26:44.:26:54.

to cut everything up -- every single penny... I thank the honourable

:26:55.:27:00.

gentleman for his question. People have heard in the previous responses

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our commitment to coexistence programmes and how they will not

:27:05.:27:08.

just ride the right values but actually help to bring the two

:27:09.:27:12.

communities together in a constructive way. In addition to our

:27:13.:27:17.

focus in targeted spending on public schemes such as health and education

:27:18.:27:21.

programmes within the region. Order. Questions to the Prime Minister.

:27:22.:27:32.

The Prime Minister. This morning I had meetings with ministerial

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colleagues and others in addition to my

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