:00:00. > :00:00.allocation for the NHS. There will be a round-up of today's activities
:00:07. > :00:15.in Parliament to night, but first, Priti Patel and her team. Order,
:00:16. > :00:26.order. Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development.
:00:27. > :00:37.Secretary Priti Patel. UK development assistance has helped to
:00:38. > :00:41.reduce property in tragic Stan. DfID work has delivered important
:00:42. > :00:55.investments and managed public reforms. I'm grateful for that
:00:56. > :01:00.information. On a recent visit there, I saw what was being done,
:01:01. > :01:06.but could she update us as to when projects will get signed off? I
:01:07. > :01:13.thank my honourable friend for his question. The Minister of State is
:01:14. > :01:17.overseeing new programming focused on economic development and details
:01:18. > :01:28.of that will be published in due course. Importantly as well, central
:01:29. > :01:41.Asia and the surrounding area has an important strategic place in
:01:42. > :01:45.delivering alp commitments. It's a country that is at risk from climate
:01:46. > :01:52.change which could risk threatening all the good work that has been done
:01:53. > :02:01.with this part of ten one crime -- DfID's gum.
:02:02. > :02:17.-- programme. DfID approach will produce greater economic stability
:02:18. > :02:21.in the long run. With your permission I will take questions
:02:22. > :02:25.numbered two and number four together. The assessment of the
:02:26. > :02:29.department in line with long-standing British government
:02:30. > :02:33.policy is that demolitions are illegal under international
:02:34. > :02:44.humanitarian law and undermine the credibility and the viability of a
:02:45. > :02:48.two state solution. The Bedouin village lies under threat from
:02:49. > :02:52.demolition. Demolitions in the occupied territories in the first
:02:53. > :02:56.two weeks of January or almost four times higher than at this time last
:02:57. > :02:59.year. What support is being given to those people driven out of their
:03:00. > :03:07.homes and what message is further being sent to the Israeli government
:03:08. > :03:13.that such demolitions are unviable? The honourable member raises two
:03:14. > :03:18.important points. The first is long-standing and we continue to
:03:19. > :03:23.lobby the Israeli government to stop undertaking these demolitions. They
:03:24. > :03:28.are illegal and undermine the two state initiative. The Foreign
:03:29. > :03:40.Minister had a meeting just before Christmas and raised the issue
:03:41. > :03:49.demolitions directly with him. Will the Minister confirm that NGOs
:03:50. > :03:56.operating will continue to receive support? They will and we want to
:03:57. > :04:01.invest in health and obligation. It's having opportunity and hope for
:04:02. > :04:09.Palestinians that will hopefully lead to a resolution in this
:04:10. > :04:12.conflict. Many demolitions occur because it's virtually impossible
:04:13. > :04:20.for Palestinians to get a building permit. What legal support can be
:04:21. > :04:34.government -- can the Department provide? The Foreign Office has done
:04:35. > :04:36.projects supplying support. It is difficult to receive planning
:04:37. > :04:43.permission which is one of the reasons why these settlements are up
:04:44. > :04:46.and demolition then takes place. Among the demolitions that the
:04:47. > :04:50.Israeli authorities undertake there are some community facilities some
:04:51. > :04:55.of which are funded and developed by money from his own department. So I
:04:56. > :05:00.would welcome the Minister's statement, but we need action rather
:05:01. > :05:17.than words and has the time come to actually send Benjamin Netanyahu the
:05:18. > :05:24.bill for structures funded by the British taxpayer? At the moment the
:05:25. > :05:34.European Union has not decided to seek compensation. Will the Minister
:05:35. > :05:39.confirm that DfID notwithstanding the efforts of eight senior Israeli
:05:40. > :05:44.diplomat to take down the Minister will continue to fight against
:05:45. > :05:49.collective punishment, demolitions and the expansion of the illegal
:05:50. > :05:53.settlements? I think we are conflating two different issues
:05:54. > :05:56.here. As the Foreign Secretary said yesterday the Israeli ambassador has
:05:57. > :06:01.already apologised for that incident. That diplomat has been
:06:02. > :06:05.removed from his post as an home. In terms of the overall questions of
:06:06. > :06:09.settlements and demolitions I think I have dealt with that in my answers
:06:10. > :06:13.to the other questions. I would like to ban the Minister for his
:06:14. > :06:18.responses, but I would like to minister to be a bit more clever and
:06:19. > :06:23.tell us how DfID has supported those people who are now homeless due to
:06:24. > :06:30.the systematic policy of settlement expansion? The central story on what
:06:31. > :06:35.DfID is doing is that we are doing three types of things for
:06:36. > :06:38.Palestinian people. We are supporting state structures, in
:06:39. > :06:43.particular health and education, doctors, teachers and nurses. We're
:06:44. > :06:47.working to get a viable economy and employment created to support two
:06:48. > :06:53.particularly small businesses and thirdly we invest in human capital,
:06:54. > :06:56.making sure Palestinian people are educated, healthy and have the
:06:57. > :07:01.opportunities for security and stability in the region in the
:07:02. > :07:05.long-term -- short-term, but in the long term there cannot be a two
:07:06. > :07:11.state solution unless we address the issues regarding the Palestinian
:07:12. > :07:21.people. What has happened developer is a tragedy and underlines the
:07:22. > :07:28.raging's Kallis tactics. -- Kallis tactics. We do all can to support
:07:29. > :07:38.civilians and to ensure they can receive the desperate aid that they
:07:39. > :07:43.need. The UK are committed to ?510 million support at the London Syria
:07:44. > :07:52.conference last year. And I ask the Secretary of State if she is on
:07:53. > :07:58.course to hit that target? Importantly, this gives me the
:07:59. > :08:03.chance to restate the house the British government's commitment to
:08:04. > :08:08.Syria. We have supported the Pledge of 510 million from the conference
:08:09. > :08:13.last year. The United Kingdom can be proud of its support, but we have
:08:14. > :08:17.ensured that humanitarian supplies a focus for the region has been the
:08:18. > :08:21.right support and we have used our international convening powers to
:08:22. > :08:27.work with others globally to ensure we can do everything we can to
:08:28. > :08:32.support Syria and the region. At the world humanitarian summit in
:08:33. > :08:36.Istanbul last year the United Kingdom permitted to the centrality
:08:37. > :08:42.of protection as a fundamental principle. Camber secretary of State
:08:43. > :08:50.tell us how that has guided DfID approach to Aleppo on what we can
:08:51. > :08:52.learn from the tragedy of Aleppo for future civilian protection. My
:08:53. > :09:02.honourable friend makes an important point in terms of the summit last
:09:03. > :09:06.year. It's about how humanitarian communities can come together and
:09:07. > :09:12.work together. There are a number of lessons, both in terms of agencies
:09:13. > :09:15.working together. The pooling of resources, making sure governments
:09:16. > :09:18.across the world are working together strategically as well in
:09:19. > :09:27.terms of resource allocation, but also in terms of convening power and
:09:28. > :09:31.how we can challenge governments where they are inflicting harm and
:09:32. > :09:38.causing the grief that they are and the devastation that they have been
:09:39. > :09:44.as well and making sure we stand shoulder to shoulder in how we
:09:45. > :09:47.tackle the situation. People give to singing for Syrians because they
:09:48. > :09:55.know the money they donate will be spent on prosthetic limbs in Aleppo.
:09:56. > :09:59.What more can the Secretary of State do to make sure that the money is
:10:00. > :10:07.spent in the region and not wasted on advocacy? Can I commend my
:10:08. > :10:15.honourable friend is on the worksheet is doing. -- work she is
:10:16. > :10:23.doing. In terms of specifically making sure the money is not wasted
:10:24. > :10:35.and it goes to the region, it's through our trusted partners who
:10:36. > :10:39.help us to measure the outcomes. The Secretary of State is already
:10:40. > :10:44.talking about Aleppo in the past tense. Besiege med is still
:10:45. > :10:48.happening right now. The British government can do more, so can I ask
:10:49. > :10:53.what representation she has made to the Foreign Secretary about
:10:54. > :10:59.The honourable lady is right. The situation, not just in Aleppo but
:11:00. > :11:03.Syria over all, is beyond com pretension. In terms of
:11:04. > :11:06.representations which each specific name refers to, the Warren Secretary
:11:07. > :11:11.and I work hand-in-hand in terms of international working together, the
:11:12. > :11:18.work we do and Syria, when it comes to calling for greater collaboration
:11:19. > :11:29.and access to humanitarian groups, that is what the governorate is
:11:30. > :11:34.doing. It is the work of government to provide those representations
:11:35. > :11:38.behind-the-scenes. Before the war, Aleppo had Syria's largest
:11:39. > :11:46.populations of Christians. 90% of them have now fled. A bulge what --
:11:47. > :11:52.a world watch list will be released that we show the key drivers of
:11:53. > :11:56.migration. What will be done to help the persecuted Christians of Aleppo?
:11:57. > :12:02.She is right to raise the plight of persecuted Christians, especially in
:12:03. > :12:11.the context of Syria and Aleppo. In terms of what we can do, it is not
:12:12. > :12:15.just our Department but the Government as a whole making sure
:12:16. > :12:21.that it is known that the persecution of religious minorities
:12:22. > :12:24.is not acceptable. We need to ensure that we work collaboratively across
:12:25. > :12:31.the world with other donor countries and other countries as well to make
:12:32. > :12:38.that case. Following the announcement that the Department
:12:39. > :12:45.would be using drones to drop supplies, how can go technology be
:12:46. > :12:49.used to deliver humanitarian aid in Aleppo and other parts of Syria? I
:12:50. > :12:54.thank him for his question. He is right to highlight that we have been
:12:55. > :12:59.innovating and looking at new technology in terms of aid provision
:13:00. > :13:03.via drones. There is a lot of work taking place in this space and I am
:13:04. > :13:06.conscious that this House has had a number of debates about other ways
:13:07. > :13:11.of delivering humanitarian assistance, particularly in besieged
:13:12. > :13:16.areas. Specifically and within the context of Syria, there is work
:13:17. > :13:20.taking place, there had been discussions and I can assure the
:13:21. > :13:24.House that this is an issue that we are pursuing actively, not just in
:13:25. > :13:30.the Department but across the Government. The Secretary of State's
:13:31. > :13:36.heart is in the right place, as we know, but the fact is that at this
:13:37. > :13:38.moment in Aleppo and other cities, the greatest humanitarian
:13:39. > :13:45.catastrophe of modern times is taking place today. Is it not right
:13:46. > :13:49.that we now admit there is precious little that we in the liberal West
:13:50. > :13:53.can do to help the appalling circumstances in Aleppo unless we
:13:54. > :13:59.have the support of the knighted nations and Russia? -- the United
:14:00. > :14:03.Nations. He makes an important point about in terms of what the
:14:04. > :14:07.Government can do, we must never lose sight of the fact that we are
:14:08. > :14:11.leading in humanitarian assistance and support. There are people in
:14:12. > :14:14.desperate need and it is the right focus that we have interns are
:14:15. > :14:20.giving them all of the necessary support. The other point is
:14:21. > :14:24.diplomacy. We need to carry on putting on pressure but we make sure
:14:25. > :14:31.we use diplomacy as well to put pressure on where it is needed. I
:14:32. > :14:36.would like to focus on north-western Syria, the main target of government
:14:37. > :14:41.strikes or on civilians who have fled Aleppo. Can the Secretary of
:14:42. > :14:47.State how they are supporting the wounded and displaced civilians? The
:14:48. > :14:51.honourable lady, I thank her for her focus once again be humanitarian
:14:52. > :14:58.plight that is taking place inside Syria. In terms of the work that is
:14:59. > :15:09.taking place, there are extensive the monetarily and efforts in terms
:15:10. > :15:16.of relief, and shelter. I have had a lot of time working with all about
:15:17. > :15:20.agencies, we are supporting and funding them directly, to ensure
:15:21. > :15:25.that supplies are getting through. I also caveat the fact that the
:15:26. > :15:28.reality is that this is a challenging environment and climate
:15:29. > :15:37.and we're getting supplies through, but it is increasingly difficult to
:15:38. > :15:42.do so. Access to energy is a key prerequisite driver of economic
:15:43. > :15:47.bread and development. Over 620 million people in sub-Saharan Africa
:15:48. > :15:52.have no access to energy. The boat's poorest people -- the world's
:15:53. > :15:59.poorest people campaign much more than we do for our energy. That is
:16:00. > :16:03.why we are trying to provide on grid and of great energy supplies to over
:16:04. > :16:11.4.5 million of the world's most in need. I thank him for his answer. I
:16:12. > :16:16.know from my own business to Africa that providing access is absolutely
:16:17. > :16:19.crucial to economic growth and prosperity in Africa. Does he agree
:16:20. > :16:22.that the role of the CDC and their investment in Africa is one of the
:16:23. > :16:29.best opportunities are providing that? I absolutely agree, Mr
:16:30. > :16:37.Speaker. This CDC can play a key role. I'm glad the House is showing
:16:38. > :16:43.support for the work that they do. A good example is a company in which
:16:44. > :16:48.the CDC has a majority stake which will drive forward energy provision
:16:49. > :16:55.of 5000 megawatts in Africa. 1000 megawatts can support 800,000 jobs.
:16:56. > :17:00.That is a different it can make, and that is why we're doing it. The
:17:01. > :17:03.German government has called on the world back to focus all of its work
:17:04. > :17:07.on climate and sustainability targets and to put an end to
:17:08. > :17:13.investment in obsolete and climate damaging technologies. Given the
:17:14. > :17:19.World Bank is the largest recipient of UK aid for energy, will the
:17:20. > :17:25.Government follow Germany's example and use its influence to call and
:17:26. > :17:30.the World Bank to stop investing in fossil fuels? I have set out some of
:17:31. > :17:33.the reasons for which energy supplies are so important to drive
:17:34. > :17:36.development, it is also important that that energy supply is
:17:37. > :17:40.sustainable and environmentally friendly. In all of the project
:17:41. > :17:43.sweep issue, we seek for that to be the case, that includes with the
:17:44. > :17:49.discussions at the world Bank where we recognise the contribution that
:17:50. > :17:56.we make. It is a board and they work towards that agenda. Another six,
:17:57. > :18:04.sir. I thank him for this question. The sustainability of programmes is
:18:05. > :18:13.crucial and all about programmes are designed with sustainability in
:18:14. > :18:16.mind. When and where it does happen, we want to ensure that a positive
:18:17. > :18:21.legacy is left and they leave no one behind. So some of the most poor and
:18:22. > :18:29.vulnerable received the protections that they order be able to expect.
:18:30. > :18:32.The American government operate the global equality fund to make sure
:18:33. > :18:37.that marginalised groups are not left behind. Will my friend consider
:18:38. > :18:43.the UK in initiating a similar fund? My honourable friend is right.
:18:44. > :18:46.Marginalised groups are sometimes the most honourable. Rightly, we
:18:47. > :18:50.focus our efforts and attention on the poorest countries in the world
:18:51. > :18:53.with the largest known as people in the greatest need of support. But
:18:54. > :18:57.there are other that need support elsewhere. We need to be aware of
:18:58. > :19:02.that and make sure that we have a sustainable impact. I would like to
:19:03. > :19:09.have further discussions about the idea he's putting forward. In a
:19:10. > :19:25.recent review, the independent commission on aid impact said that
:19:26. > :19:30.no policy... The Department will always look at what we need to do to
:19:31. > :19:34.ensure sustainable and long-lasting transition and support programmes
:19:35. > :19:39.that need to be designed in that way. That runs through all of the
:19:40. > :19:42.decisions we make. We will continue to work in this area and we're happy
:19:43. > :19:46.to consider and look at further proposals for what might improve the
:19:47. > :19:58.of work that is done. Topical questions.
:19:59. > :20:05.UK aid health meet our obligations of the world's poorest, whether
:20:06. > :20:08.giving to Syrian refugees, access to water or creating jobs across
:20:09. > :20:14.Africa. This investment is also firmly in our interests since it
:20:15. > :20:18.tackles the route causes of global problems and focuses on delivering
:20:19. > :20:23.world-class programmes which deliver value for money for taxpayers. The
:20:24. > :20:29.Secretary of State has previously said she is looking at allocating
:20:30. > :20:32.funding to peaceful coexistence programmes, including one that
:20:33. > :20:37.brings Palestinians and Israelis together. Am I honourable friend
:20:38. > :20:41.update the House on this worthy project? I thank him for his
:20:42. > :20:48.question. I am pleased to confirm we are working on a range of
:20:49. > :20:53.programmes. They will support tangible improvements, as my
:20:54. > :20:56.honourable friend has already stepped. This programme is now in
:20:57. > :21:02.its final design phase and will be launched at the beginning of the
:21:03. > :21:05.financial year. Order. I understand the air of anticipation just before
:21:06. > :21:08.Prime Minister's Questions. Can I remind the House that we are
:21:09. > :21:10.discussing matters that affect the poorest people on the face of the
:21:11. > :21:19.planet and they should be treated with respect? The protection of
:21:20. > :21:26.civilians must remain our absolute priority in Aleppo. If we are to
:21:27. > :21:28.provide food, water, shelter and humanitarian relief to civilians who
:21:29. > :21:32.for four years have faced the horrors of an in humane war, we need
:21:33. > :21:37.to make sure that the ceasefire, although currently holding, remains
:21:38. > :21:40.more than a brief pause. Can the minister explain what efforts are
:21:41. > :21:44.being made to ensure that conflict does not reignite in Aleppo and what
:21:45. > :21:52.contingency plan the Department has in place to continue to provide aid
:21:53. > :21:57.for civilians? The honourable gentleman is right that the UK will
:21:58. > :22:04.do everything it can to support the current ceasefire and, importantly,
:22:05. > :22:11.safeguard humanitarian support in the region as well. That is down to
:22:12. > :22:14.our diplomatic tools and efforts. We need ensure that all agencies work
:22:15. > :22:20.together to provide the support that is required. No self respecting
:22:21. > :22:23.conservative believes that you should be judged on how much you
:22:24. > :22:29.spend on something. Spending a guaranteed amount of money each year
:22:30. > :22:34.on overseas aid leads to waste and excess, including the amount spent
:22:35. > :22:37.on consultants. When can we get back to some common sense and stops
:22:38. > :22:44.pending more on overseas aid every year when the money could be better
:22:45. > :22:49.spent at home? I thank my honourable friend for his question. Like all
:22:50. > :22:52.Conservatives, I too want to focus on making sure that every penny of
:22:53. > :22:57.taxpayers money goes to helping the poorest, and that is the commission
:22:58. > :23:00.about Department. At the same time, he will note that overseas
:23:01. > :23:05.development assistance saves lives and transforms lives. He
:23:06. > :23:10.specifically refers to spending on consultants. That is something that
:23:11. > :23:16.my Department is looking at right now and we are currently reviewing.
:23:17. > :23:20.The replies must be heard with courtesy. It is rather alarming when
:23:21. > :23:28.some of her own backbenchers are not according to the proper respect. She
:23:29. > :23:33.must be accorded that respect. Thank you very much. We receive much
:23:34. > :23:39.lobbying over the Israeli and Palestinian need for delivery on the
:23:40. > :23:42.ground, but what is the minister's assessment of the effect of
:23:43. > :23:46.terrorism and how difficult it makes to deliver on the ground to those
:23:47. > :23:54.who really need it, whether it is education or humanitarian aid? The
:23:55. > :23:58.honourable member makes a good point. We have talk about
:23:59. > :24:01.demolitions and settlements. The only long-term stability in that
:24:02. > :24:09.region requires protecting the security of Israel as an absolutely
:24:10. > :24:12.essential plank along with guaranteeing an independent,
:24:13. > :24:18.autonomous Palestinian state. The most sustainable aid is paid through
:24:19. > :24:22.trade. Will my right honourable friend therefore ensure that when we
:24:23. > :24:27.leave the European Union and the customs union, that we give top
:24:28. > :24:33.priority and free access to our markets to exports from the poorest
:24:34. > :24:37.countries? My honourable friend will note that our priority is of course
:24:38. > :24:41.economic development and making sure that, through our aid, we are
:24:42. > :24:43.delivering long-term sustainable economic development and prosperity
:24:44. > :24:48.in everything we do. He is also right to note that we are working
:24:49. > :24:52.across government as we leave the European Union to look at unilateral
:24:53. > :24:59.trade preferences and the work we can do to grow our trade footprint
:25:00. > :25:03.across the world. Unlike the honourable member opposite, we're
:25:04. > :25:09.the SNP except that data shows that last year the UK was one of the only
:25:10. > :25:13.six countries to meet the 0.7% aid target. This includes the Scottish
:25:14. > :25:16.Cup men's international aid fund. What assurances can be given that
:25:17. > :25:19.the Government's commitment to that target is unwavering and will
:25:20. > :25:25.continue to be fulfilled beyond the next election? We have been
:25:26. > :25:31.unequivocal in our commitment to 0.7%. On top of that, it is a
:25:32. > :25:35.manifesto commitment. The focus of my Department is to focus on poverty
:25:36. > :25:40.reduction and ensured that that money is spent to drive taxpayer
:25:41. > :25:48.value and deliver programmes to the poorest in the world. The honourable
:25:49. > :26:00.lady wanted to ask a question earlier, issue no longer inclined to
:26:01. > :26:08.do so? Thank you. This election amid the -- the select committee saw the
:26:09. > :26:11.amazing work done by CDC. Not only is it reducing energy for millions
:26:12. > :26:17.of people, it is creating a lot of jobs. Can we encourage them to do
:26:18. > :26:22.even more schemes like that? I thank the honourable lady for paying too
:26:23. > :26:25.good to the important role the CDC by bringing the rigour of the
:26:26. > :26:33.private sector with the genuine values of the public sector and we
:26:34. > :26:43.have shown the ability to provide hydro power that provides energy for
:26:44. > :26:54.millions of people. Will she be consider her Department's decision
:26:55. > :27:00.to cut everything up -- every single penny... I thank the honourable
:27:01. > :27:04.gentleman for his question. People have heard in the previous responses
:27:05. > :27:08.our commitment to coexistence programmes and how they will not
:27:09. > :27:12.just ride the right values but actually help to bring the two
:27:13. > :27:17.communities together in a constructive way. In addition to our
:27:18. > :27:21.focus in targeted spending on public schemes such as health and education
:27:22. > :27:32.programmes within the region. Order. Questions to the Prime Minister.
:27:33. > :27:38.The Prime Minister. This morning I had meetings with ministerial
:27:39. > :27:39.colleagues and others in addition to my