28/03/2017 House of Commons


28/03/2017

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We will lead the Scottish Parliament to rejoin MPs in Westminster as they

:00:07.:00:20.

continued their debate on Yemen. The airport at Sana cannot leave. I

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would ask the government to speak to the Saudis and remove a blockage so

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people can get in and out by air so these people can be treated when

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they need to be. All of these delays are costing lives, they are leaving

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people with long-term health problems as a result of severe

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malnutrition. People are less able to fight off disease and their

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immune system is susceptible to cholera. A suspected 22,000 cholera

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cases in the past six months alone with 100 people at least dying as a

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result. Tragically, Unicef estimates 63,000 children died in 2016 from

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preventable diseases linked to malnutrition. That is more than

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children born in Scotland last year. That is a generation, the future of

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Yemen hangs in the balance. The government must do more. Can I thank

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the backbench committee for allowing us to hold this important debate and

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my right honourable friend from Leicester East for organising it. It

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really is a forgotten conflict or perhaps an ignored conflict in the

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UK would be a better term. The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is on a

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knife edge. Yemen has always been desperately poor, 90% of food and

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goods are imported into Yemen and yet it is surrounded by huge wealth.

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There is no reason why it shouldn't be a functioning country. It has

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reserves of oil and Gas UK but the inability to export them has

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crippled its foreign exchange reserves. The central bank has no

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power to sustain the economy. They are 1.5 million public sector

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employees paid sporadically, if at all and the GDP has contracted a

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further 35%. A war economy is now in place with tribal leaders making a

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fortune while people starve. The international community must be

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ready to rebuild confidence in the financial institutions as part of

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any settlement of the conflict and guarantee the restoration of the

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Yemen economy. I can understand why the coalition has fought to keep

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their own people say from attacks, there were four SCUD attacks into

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Saudi territory and these are increasing. But we have to come to

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the point where the continue fighting is stirring up more

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problems for the future. There is no doubt the country will be continue

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to be used as a base by terrorist if the conflict is to continue. There

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are growing signs the groups involved in Syria and Iraq see Yemen

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as a long-term safe haven. Al-Qaeda has claimed 76 attacks this year and

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in southern and eastern Yemen, killing 11 Yemen the security forces

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yesterday. So I disagreed the Al-Qaeda are on our side. As my

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right honourable friend said earlier. There could be immense

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threat to the stability of the region in the future. I will give

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way. Thank you very much. In attacking Al-Qaeda, they were

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attacking an element that was fighting the 50s, so they are

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attacking an element that in that instance was on our side of the

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conflict. In that case, but they are still attacking the Yemeni security

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forces and they are a grave danger to the rest of the region. We are

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already supplying a which is limiting the impact of the

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humanitarian crisis, but I want to ask the British government to be a

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peace broker and end the crisis. My honourable friend recently visited

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and they said they are happy to engage with the British government

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to work on a peace process. So let's challenge them to see if they mean

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it, whether they will understand the UN Security Council 2000 216 which

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requires them to lay down their arms and withdraw. We have lots of

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expertise in this area and a long history of engaging with everyone in

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this area. On the humanitarian front, I would urge the government

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to continue to work the flow of aid. We have helped ease the blockade on

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the port for supplies of humanitarian aid, fuel and food but

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the coalition has recently refused access of mobile cranes supplied by

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the world food programme which would improve the availability of the port

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to unload essential supplies. This is a UN body and the coalition must

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accept the role of the UN as an impartial agent in this crisis. That

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includes acceptance of the role of the UN inspection and verification

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mechanism. I know they have doubts about this and are concerned weapons

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are still being brought in. Can the Minister report back to the House

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and whether the verification mechanism is working in a timely

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fashion on what evidence is there evidence that me-macro weapons are

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being smuggled. Can we reassure the coalition weapons are not being

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smuggled. The cranes need to be put to work. Other ports must be used to

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bring in more aid. Can the minister call on the coalition to support the

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rehabilitation of port infrastructure and get the cranes

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working? Can the Minister also say if there is any indication that the

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coalition, backed by the US will be attacking her dado, because I know

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that is of concern. But most importantly, can the government

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demand a ceasefire and leave the country of Yemen to peace. I have to

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reduce the time limit to three minutes and remind the House it is

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not compulsory to take an intervention and thus increase one's

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speech time limit. Mr Clive Lewis. I am very glad to be able to speak in

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this place about the current situation in the Yemen. By which the

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liam-macro wish to pay tribute... Minister. Sorry to interrupt, I

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observed the point, when this debate ends, we have an adjournment debate,

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which I understand, the House will get more than its 30 minutes. Is it

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not possible we can use our allocation and did up the time and

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the 30 minutes before the House disburses today? I have every

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sympathy with what the Minister has said. This is a vitally important

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debate, I am not going to take up time in fully answering the

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Minister's point of order, but the House had decided on the timetable,

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the backbench business committee gave 90 minutes for this debate and

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I am powerless to change that. But the Minister makes a very good

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point. Mr Clive Lewis. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I

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would like to pay tribute to those members, Leicester East, and Glasgow

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Central, for securing today's debate. I pay tribute to them not

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just out of politeness but for choosing Iraq is a topic for debate.

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They have brought into our public arena and urgent discussion it is

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clear the Government would rather not have. At the very least this

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should be deeply embarrassing to our Government, and I see this not to

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secure a petty political point but to highlight the fact it is the role

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of elected members to speak up when the Government is acting wrongly on

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the international stage. That is the essence of our democracy. Madame

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Deputy Speaker, as we have heard from members today, there is an

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imminent crisis in Iraq, a disastrous -- there is an imminent

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crisis in Yemen, a famine. As the member said already, the "Slick

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Willie" Shaw are not starving. They are being starved. This is a famine

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that can be stopped as soon as we can find the political will to stop

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it -- the Yemeni are not starving. We have defined this political will

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is a matter of urgency. Madame Deputy Speaker, it is the particular

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responsible do that here in the UK because as a permanent member of the

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UN security council, and of course because we also have close political

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ties with neighbouring states, it is clear that we have been gifted an

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opportunity to set the international agenda and it is nothing short of

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our absolute moral duty to do so. Let me begin by acknowledging that,

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and notwithstanding the good intentions in the motion debated

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today we cannot pass the resolution that would give effect to an

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immediate ceasefire in Yemen, however much we might wish for that.

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Madame Deputy Speaker, we must call for an immediate ceasefire and throw

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our weight behind that call. We can certainly recognise all major

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parties to this war must be part of the solution the United nations

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security council resolution has stated needs to be replaced by a

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realistic alternative that will bring everyone to the negotiating

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table. We can and must recognise the importance of independent witnesses

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on the ground, and the urgent need for reliable data relating to food

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insecurity is so that relief can be well targeted. Clearly needing

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assurances from both sides about the protection of humanitarian workers.

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These are credible and achievable political goals. Thank you, Madam

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Deputy Speaker. Firstly I would like to congratulate my right honourable

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friend from Leicester East as well for bringing this debate. I think it

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is the second time in 6-8 weeks we have been here to debate this issue

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and I am delighted to debate it. I think last time I opened up by

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saying the most important thing is not about arms sales but it is about

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the people suffering in Yemen, it is about a ceasefire, peace, for all

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our weight behind trying to achieve something that will benefit people

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on the ground, not just talking, talk bandied around for

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self-promotion. I think recently the panel of experts have released a new

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report, an updated report. In January. I would like to, in the

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three automatic minutes, I will not get to see a great deal, but they

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have said this by any one side is no longer realistic or a possibility.

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We have to recognise there are three sides in this. As long as this goes

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on, Islamist terrorists are profiting from this conflict as well

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as the misery and suffering of people on the ground. I think it is

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important to remember, and the UN panel of experts continues to

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support the democratically elected president Hadi, and support the

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resolution which condemns the coup and cold case trick-mac for

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meaningful peace talks. -- and calls for meaningful peace talks. I think

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my right honourable friend from Leicester East big point this out,

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and the Houthi said. They just do not seem willing or able to come to

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the table so far -- the Houthi side. But it is important they come to the

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table because that is the road map to peace. I think the situation we

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have on the ground, the problem is they see both sides have committed

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terrible atrocities, that some of the coalition attacks may amount to

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war crimes, although having spoken with some of the Saudis, and don't

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forget they are involved in Iraq and Syria, the operators Nato standards,

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and they openly admit they have made mistakes, but nonetheless some

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atrocities have occurred and the UN panel of experts recognises that, by

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the coalition, but the equally recognise that as many if not more

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atrocities have been committed by the Houthis and have been described

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as violations of international humanitarian law, violations of

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human rights laws, which were widespread, including the use of

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mortar bombs, into densely populated residential areas, attacks on horse

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bottles, forcible disappearance of individuals in detention, torture

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and murder, and I can see the clock will run down -- taxon hospitals. I

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will say I am grateful for the debate but we must press and I asked

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the Minister to press for meaningful peace talks. Thank you, Madam Deputy

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Speaker. Can I begin by thanking the backbench member for granting this

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important debate on Yemen and also to the members for Leicester East,

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Portsmouth South and Glasgow Central. I want to pay tribute to

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the right honourable member for Leicester East. Yemen has been

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called the forgotten conflict. He spoke passionately about his country

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of birth. It will never be the case in this House while he is sitting

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there. This is it obviously very confidently did. Clearly once the

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Houthis captured parts of Yemen the essentially launched a coup d' tat

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against the new president, Hadi, and it became evident the country would

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descend into civil war. There is a natural instinct and well

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established principle in international law that where there

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is conflict and humanitarian situation develops it is not only

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right to intervene but an international responsibility to

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protect civilians in certain circumstances. In a single attack in

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March last year, which involved a Saudi air strike on a crowded

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village market, with 106 civilians including 12 children killed, and we

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must face up to the fact there is a very realistic chance it weapon used

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to cause mass destruction and grief was sold to Saudi Arabia by the UK.

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Although we have heard the UK has given evidence and support to Saudi

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forces to help them comply with obligations and international law,

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the message is clearly not getting through. Saudi Arabia has designated

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the entirety of Yemen a military target. The convention is signed up

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to by both the UK and Saudi Arabia which designates legitimate military

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targets. Well the definition includes a wide range of

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infrastructure, military, industrial and communities and targets, it does

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not include hospitals, or a village markets. They targeted those

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illegally, recklessly killing civilians in cities, schools and

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hospitals as well, it is a clear breach of international law. This is

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a position supported by the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen.

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Turning war in peace is never easy, Madame Deputy Speaker, but the UN

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can be a fantastic vehicle when properly used. We must take the

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Civil War in Yemen and seriously encourage our counterparts on all

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sides of the conflict, with the exception of terrorist groups like

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Daesh, to stop the armed conflict and get around the negotiating

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table. Brokering a ceasefire is the first step towards this. It is

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something we could and should play a role in. I am really grateful but

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would he not accept having the UN monitor the port movements, would

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that not help to relieve the humanitarian problem? I fully accept

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they have invited the Saudis into the government but what I am

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concerned with is when the Saudis are using civilians as targets and

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they are being hurt, then we do have a humanitarian catastrophe on our

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hands. Can we just be absolutely clear about this point. The Saudis

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or preventing the replacement from getting into Hudayda, despite the

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fact that international development urgently needs these to unload

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vessels carrying aid and medicine and food. Except that point from the

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honourable gentleman. Clearly ceasefires is simply the beginning

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of a long peacemaking process. Any ceasefire needs to be enforced to be

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successful. Without enforcement ceasefires our tendency to fall

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apart. This can be seen in Syria to some extent and in Ukraine. UN

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peacekeepers are specifically intended for this very purpose and

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could be deployed in Yemen to enforce a ceasefire agreement. I can

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see Madame Deputy Speaker speaker coming to her chair. I will end

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here. This will be difficult given the wider geopolitical forces

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involved but the necessity of agreement among the UN security

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Council is there. It is something we strive towards and encourage and

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support. Too many people have died, Madame Deputy Speaker. We cannot

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oversee another famine like we are seeing in Yemen at the moment. Thank

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you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I congratulate my right honourable

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friend from Leicester East for bringing this debate to the House

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today. What we're seeing in Yemen today is a humanitarian crisis is

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being referred to as one of the worst the world has ever seen. Over

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the past 18 months the war and destruction has killed over 10,000

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people, with at least 1200 of those being children. According to the

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office of the High Commissioner for human rights the majority of these

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deaths are from coalition air strikes. 3 million people have

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severe valued -- malnutrition with a more requiring urgent help. This is

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one of the worst crises. The Red Cross warned there are only three or

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four months left to avoid famine. We are used to statistics and figures

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in this House but may I remind my honourable friend is that each and

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every single one of these people is a mother, a father, brother or

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sister, a husband or wife or a child? These are the innocent

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victims caught up in the forgotten war. This conflict is making this

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enormous catastrophe worse. Every day that it continues, and both

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sides are feeling. -- failing to facilitate the flow of vital

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humanitarian aid, and failing to conduct any kind of credible

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investigation that meet international standards in Yemen. I

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have many Yemeni people in my constituency, many of them have

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family in Yemen. Who are being cut up in the destruction. They are

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absolutely terrified for their relatives. Last week my right

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honourable honourable friend, from Leicester East, joined me at an

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event in Sheffield with the local Yemeni community. I commend his huge

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commitment to shedding light to the crisis and his work on the issue.

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Madame Deputy Speaker, over the weekend we had the two-year

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anniversary of the beginning of the conflict in Yemen but I must say

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that if current political will remains as it is, this conflict will

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continue. We must take action now. There must be an immediate ceasefire

:19:19.:19:23.

and humanitarian aid must be adequately brought in and

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distributed. If the conditions for this are not met huge numbers of

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Yemenis will continue to suffer and die. The coalition insists the only

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target military targets, but I suggest the evidence from the Saudi

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led coalition and the civilians in the resulting ... As been suggested

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by human rights organisations, they are blatant breach of international

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Manichaean laws. Madame Deputy Speaker, the UK's approach to the

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war in Yemen is a total contradicts and I urge the Government and the

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Council to adopt a new resolution on Yemen -- breach of international

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law. We must the ceasefire as soon as possible. Alongside that

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humanitarian access must be prioritised and this must be

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established to avoid greater disaster. The humanitarian situation

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in Yemen is incredibly serious and continues to spiral out of control.

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A report by Unicef yesterday makes harrowing reading and, I quote,

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malnourished children across Yemen are teetering on life and death.

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Cemeteries are full of unmarked graves. 80% of all children in the

:20:51.:20:56.

country are in need of humanitarian assistance. That is a moral outrage.

:20:57.:21:01.

Quoting international development budgets in response to serious and

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repeated concerns over the UK's Arms trade with Saudi Arabia is also an

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outrageous way for any supposedly responsible government to act. The

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Saudi led coalition has destroyed much of the infrastructure in Yemen,

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as we have heard, especially with air strikes in the port of Hudayda,

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leading to one of the six loading crates still remaining functional,

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seriously hampering efforts to get aid into the country. Good

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intentions can't for absolutely nothing. What good is it if we

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allocate an aid budget yet continue to support those who are making it

:21:35.:21:38.

near impossible to get aid to those who need it? Almost 10 million wee

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ones need assistance and not only are we not doing enough to help, we

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are actively preventing help. Why are we ignoring the brittle and

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impending prospect of a famine that will have been shamefully and

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utterly complicit in creating the international -- in creating?

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International development line will not watch any more. Why is the UK

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Government so keen to continue selling weapons, that it is unable

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to even try to convince its Saudi ally to stop the bombing? Why are we

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not leading ceasefire negotiations at the UN? There are clear breaches

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of international humanitarian law on all sides of the conflict. Yet this

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Government continues with its policy of implausible deniability about its

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allies, and its collusion The UK Government insistence the

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Saudis should be able to investigate themselves would be laughable if it

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wasn't so improper. I don't have a lot of time, so unfortunately I have

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to end by saying the government appears totally incapable of

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changing direction or doing the right thing, so it sticks to its

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line and ignores the consequences. This is real life with millions of

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children starving and this cannot continue. We need to see action if

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we are to prevent a catastrophe. The government cannot and must not wait

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another moment. Let the show real leadership and bring about an end to

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the widespread suffering to the people of Yemen. I want to put it to

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the Minister whose esteem has never been higher in this House, but

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tomorrow is the last chance the UK has of influencing the course of

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events, materially in Yemen. Because in my view, it seems there is a lot

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of building up to ensure the conflict and the bombing will get

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worse and not less. The United States, since the arrival of the

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Trump regime has changed its stance. The level of US bombing in the Yemen

:23:54.:23:59.

has increased than it ever was. The Trump regime has changed the Obama

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regime's position on supplying precision weapons to the Saudi air

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force. The Saudi air force had almost run out of precision weapons

:24:14.:24:18.

and the fear is the Saudis will use the resupply to intensify the

:24:19.:24:23.

bombing. Yesterday, the Washington Post had a very reputable report

:24:24.:24:28.

that the Defence Secretary is asking permission from the White House to

:24:29.:24:32.

change the rules of conduct, the United States forces to intervene

:24:33.:24:39.

with the Saudi led coalition in order to occupy the port of Hudayda.

:24:40.:24:47.

The Saudis don't have the material basis to undertake such an invasion,

:24:48.:24:52.

it would have to come from the US Marine carriers in the Gulf. That

:24:53.:24:57.

could only end up in a situation, where far from reducing the

:24:58.:25:01.

conflict, it will increase and the humanitarian crisis will get worse.

:25:02.:25:05.

I want to add one thing that has not been mentioned so far, they have

:25:06.:25:10.

announced over a quarter of a million African refugees who have

:25:11.:25:14.

poured into Yemen in the last two years, over 100,000 in the last,

:25:15.:25:20.

despite the conflict and famine in Africa, making the situation on the

:25:21.:25:24.

ground in Yemen even worse. I would ask the minister at what discussions

:25:25.:25:28.

have there been with the Trump regime regarding this

:25:29.:25:31.

intensification of American military involvement in Yemen and what steps

:25:32.:25:36.

is the UK Government going to take to intervene now, while it has the

:25:37.:25:39.

chance in the UN, to get the ceasefire before the conflict

:25:40.:25:43.

becomes even more bloody and the humanitarian crisis becomes even

:25:44.:25:55.

worse? Summing up from these benches is a tall order today and I have

:25:56.:26:00.

colleagues can forgive me for not fitting in all of their excellent

:26:01.:26:03.

contributions we have heard in this debate. But looking back over my

:26:04.:26:08.

notes, I noticed the 23rd of March marked a year almost to the day

:26:09.:26:14.

since the committee on arms, export control first met to discuss this

:26:15.:26:19.

issue. As a member of that committee, it is with some sadness I

:26:20.:26:28.

speak more than a year on from that, with the situation in Yemen growing

:26:29.:26:32.

worse. During that time, those on these benches have been consistent

:26:33.:26:36.

in their position that the government must suspend all arms

:26:37.:26:41.

sales immediately to Saudi Arabia until a full, independent and

:26:42.:26:47.

transparent enquiry into the humanitarian law to these alleged

:26:48.:26:53.

activities has been put in place. I would like to offer some time, if

:26:54.:27:00.

that's possible. We have had a very straightforward, honest and

:27:01.:27:03.

consistent position throughout this whole sorry saga. Quite simply, it

:27:04.:27:09.

is an atrocious humanitarian situation that cannot be allowed to

:27:10.:27:13.

get any worse I continued Saudi offensive. If this government has

:27:14.:27:18.

any leveraged at all, which they claim they do, with the regime in

:27:19.:27:22.

Riyadh, they must stop the bombing now and bring peace to the people of

:27:23.:27:28.

Yemen. This should also be an opportunity for the government to

:27:29.:27:31.

reflect on how their decision to allow arms sales and the military

:27:32.:27:34.

and security systems they offer Saudi allies has affected the

:27:35.:27:40.

humanitarian situation. I would also said the damning indictment of the

:27:41.:27:45.

UK foreign policy has become so reliant on this one bilateral

:27:46.:27:49.

relationship, not only in terms of the options it gives the UK in the

:27:50.:27:53.

region, but how it is important to maintain this current level of arms

:27:54.:27:58.

exports. The stories we have heard the day of the humanitarian crisis

:27:59.:28:02.

in Yemen is extremely distressing and on the ground, there are

:28:03.:28:06.

increasingly distressed stories coming back from the NGOs who are

:28:07.:28:13.

there trying to help. It is not just 12, it is Save the Children, Oxfam,

:28:14.:28:20.

amnesty International, the Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres.

:28:21.:28:24.

They have come back with plans and they have similar themes. All these

:28:25.:28:30.

agencies are looking to permit rapid and unimpeded access to deliver

:28:31.:28:37.

humanitarian aid. They are asking to build on the current spending and

:28:38.:28:42.

funding commitments. I don't want previous speaker talked about the

:28:43.:28:46.

six or 7% of funding that has been given. They are asking for the

:28:47.:28:51.

support from the human rights Council to conduct an investigation

:28:52.:28:57.

on the Leader of the House and independence and international

:28:58.:29:06.

enquiry. They want to intensify efforts to support the UN led peace

:29:07.:29:13.

talks. Lastly, not to sell or transfer arms to any party involved

:29:14.:29:17.

in the Yemeni conflict. We are also at the stage of the point where we

:29:18.:29:21.

see desperate tactics employed by the Houthi rebels, including the

:29:22.:29:27.

plan to attack Saudi warships in the red Sea. The UK contribution in this

:29:28.:29:34.

is significant, we have allowed weapons to be exported, but more

:29:35.:29:39.

significantly, the number of UK personnel who are advising the Saudi

:29:40.:29:43.

Armed Forces on a number of issues and what they are doing is a mystery

:29:44.:29:49.

and it is unclear, as the MoD refuses to tell us. When I visited

:29:50.:29:54.

Saudi last year it was clear the British Embassy work keen to press

:29:55.:30:02.

upon us the personnel were playing a vital part with our Saudi

:30:03.:30:05.

counterparts. This must be something that gets to the heart of the

:30:06.:30:09.

narrative used by the government. Because for my part, I would

:30:10.:30:13.

appreciate the answers to some questions, namely the war is being

:30:14.:30:17.

fought in mostly by mercenary so how can we be confident there is no UK

:30:18.:30:24.

citizens involved putting actions along the purview of the MoD. Why is

:30:25.:30:35.

the government not buying back the stockpiles of cluster munitions? The

:30:36.:30:42.

cluster munitions sold legally by the UK to Saudi in the 1980s brings

:30:43.:30:47.

by the length of this relationship. There is no doubt the UK Government

:30:48.:30:52.

has been involved with Saudi Arabia from the start. UK engineers have

:30:53.:30:58.

extracted oil, built roads, UK nurses have stuffed the hospitals

:30:59.:31:03.

and teachers, their schools. How is it the UK has so little leverage

:31:04.:31:08.

edge over that regime, why must we also hear about the carrot and not

:31:09.:31:13.

the stick. Germany and the Netherlands have banned the sale of

:31:14.:31:18.

material to Saudi Arabia. Indeed it is the government's rejection of the

:31:19.:31:25.

Dutch UN led rejection of war crimes which first brought this

:31:26.:31:28.

government's priorities into question. I can only hope it is not

:31:29.:31:33.

the size of this relationship that has skewed priorities in Whitehall.

:31:34.:31:38.

I have no doubt the defence sector is an important one for our national

:31:39.:31:42.

economies and the local economy in Fife, but with highly skilled jobs

:31:43.:31:49.

and applications of technology, we must look again at the high

:31:50.:31:54.

standards of licensing these products need to obtain in order to

:31:55.:31:58.

be sold worldwide. I don't think anyone on those benches here do not

:31:59.:32:06.

understand that complex situation. We are expected to believe that on

:32:07.:32:11.

one hand the role of the UK is playing is significant that the UK

:32:12.:32:17.

has leveraged over the Saudi regime, but these personnel are not in the

:32:18.:32:21.

country on anything more than an advisory role. I hope the minister

:32:22.:32:25.

will take the time to enlighten us today on where these people stand.

:32:26.:32:30.

What is the role of Saudi, if it is a significant one, then we are tired

:32:31.:32:33.

of not being given the proper answers. If it is not, please stop

:32:34.:32:38.

telling us we are able to affect matters within the Saudi kingdom.

:32:39.:32:43.

There are other questions my colleagues have brought up in the

:32:44.:32:49.

debate today. The member for West and East, a fighter for Yemen. The

:32:50.:32:55.

member for Liverpool and Derby talked about the 5000 people who

:32:56.:33:00.

have lost their lives. 1500 of them children. The member has asked about

:33:01.:33:08.

other nations not paying their way. With your influence, Minister, you

:33:09.:33:12.

can bring more pressure to bear on the nations not paying any money to

:33:13.:33:17.

help Yemen. Not enough independent people to declare the famine exists

:33:18.:33:22.

and ?3.3 billion worth of arms sales which dwarfs the figure we offer an

:33:23.:33:26.

international aid. The honourable member for Portsmouth South again,

:33:27.:33:32.

always speaks on these matters with distinction, looking for a country

:33:33.:33:39.

in Yemen to return to be successful and to be a functioning country.

:33:40.:33:43.

That is what we all want but in order to do that, we must stop arms

:33:44.:33:49.

sales now to allow peace to take place. Another member highlighted

:33:50.:33:56.

the half a million children who are suffering from malnutrition. Again,

:33:57.:34:06.

the issue here is about seizing arms sales, let's get on a path to peace

:34:07.:34:10.

and make sure the people of Yemen have a fighting chance to rebuild

:34:11.:34:16.

their country in the future. May I start by thanking the sponsors of

:34:17.:34:20.

this debate, particularly my honourable friend from Leicester

:34:21.:34:23.

East and the member for Portsmouth South who were both born in Yemen

:34:24.:34:26.

and they bring a depth of knowledge and passion to these debates, which

:34:27.:34:31.

we are very grateful for. We have tended to see Yemen through the

:34:32.:34:35.

prism of British involvement in this conflict in the form of arms sales

:34:36.:34:39.

and other military support to the Saudi led coalition. I don't intend

:34:40.:34:43.

to dwell on those issues today, although I am sure they will be

:34:44.:34:47.

raised again, not least because we await the judgments on legality on

:34:48.:34:52.

the sale of arms to Saudi in the next few weeks. When we look at

:34:53.:34:57.

Yemen today, what we see is a humanitarian catastrophe, the

:34:58.:35:01.

world's worst, according to the United Nations. We should not forget

:35:02.:35:06.

that before the start of this four, Yemen was a destitute nation,

:35:07.:35:09.

surrounded by wealthy mate neighbours with a desolate landscape

:35:10.:35:14.

which meant it relied on imports for 90% of its food. Now Yemen is

:35:15.:35:18.

engulfed in a famine in all but name. It is not just 90% of the

:35:19.:35:24.

country's food is imported, but the most of those imports need to go

:35:25.:35:29.

through the port of Hudayda, the red Sea port which has been raided by

:35:30.:35:34.

air strikes which have destroyed the cranes and it makes it impossible to

:35:35.:35:39.

unload cargo. Even if the supplies could get as far as the port and get

:35:40.:35:44.

through the roadblocks, paperwork and the searchers, it is unlikely

:35:45.:35:47.

they would get any further because another effect of the Saudi air

:35:48.:35:51.

strikes is they have systematically destroyed the roads and bridges that

:35:52.:35:54.

make it possible to get the supplies from one place to the other. The

:35:55.:35:59.

other 10%, the small amount of food be Yemeni people themselves produce,

:36:00.:36:04.

for most part that has gone as bombs have struck factories and food

:36:05.:36:07.

markets, poultry farms and even fishing boats. Jane McCord Rick has

:36:08.:36:15.

said, who is the UN humanitarian coordinator, that I mention of this

:36:16.:36:21.

war has become a tactic. It is an all-encompassing, surprise that is

:36:22.:36:26.

causing everybody to failure. Another member of the United

:36:27.:36:33.

Nations, in January told the Security Council that a viable

:36:34.:36:36.

proposal for peace was on the table and within reach.

:36:37.:36:43.

My first question is what happened to that proposal? Where has it gone?

:36:44.:36:50.

Was it in connection to the ceasefire resolution we were told

:36:51.:36:52.

the UK would introduce six months ago? Can the Minister to us what

:36:53.:36:58.

happened to that resolution? The last we debated this matter, the

:36:59.:37:01.

right honourable gentleman told us the British Government was in the

:37:02.:37:04.

process of re-drafting the resolution, and I wonder how that is

:37:05.:37:09.

now going. Do we have an up-to-date resolution? When the Security

:37:10.:37:13.

Council meets tomorrow, under the British chairmanship, to discuss the

:37:14.:37:16.

humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which I understand was pressed for by the

:37:17.:37:20.

Russians, we will be chairing the meeting and we should be putting

:37:21.:37:24.

forward the peace resolution. Are we going to? I fear not. I have been

:37:25.:37:31.

told the UK is in fact increasingly stepping back on the diplomatic

:37:32.:37:34.

front for fear of upsetting the Saudis on the one hand and the

:37:35.:37:38.

Americans on the other, because the new administration in America, I am

:37:39.:37:43.

told, from sources, my sources on the 38th floor, that the new

:37:44.:37:47.

administration is now considering stepping up its support for the

:37:48.:37:50.

coalition military campaign. If that is right could you confirm that the

:37:51.:37:57.

Saudi have been given the rest of the year to stabilise yemen, in the

:37:58.:38:03.

words used? and to reassert the government's authority over the

:38:04.:38:06.

entire country? surely that cannot be the case. we all know in military

:38:07.:38:12.

approach alone will not work. May I also ask about the role of Stephen

:38:13.:38:16.

O'Brien, a member of this House, and indeed many members you know him. He

:38:17.:38:21.

is the UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and is

:38:22.:38:27.

important obviously in this regard -- many members here know him. He

:38:28.:38:31.

said we are facing the worst humanitarian crisis since 1945, the

:38:32.:38:36.

crisis in Yemen. Can you confirm Mr O'Brien is not leaving his post and

:38:37.:38:41.

that the rumours he is not -- that he's leaving not out of choice,

:38:42.:38:45.

because of Saudi objections, are wrong. If he can confirm that I

:38:46.:38:49.

would appreciate it. If this forgotten war becoming the new

:38:50.:38:53.

Syria? Is it a multilayered civil war being fought by major powerful

:38:54.:38:59.

nations, either directly or through proxies, where the victims are

:39:00.:39:02.

civilians who suffer unbearable and insufferable torment? And they are

:39:03.:39:10.

also being starved. I urge the Minister to ensure that Britain once

:39:11.:39:15.

again takes up a proactive role in relation to Yemen, because it is a

:39:16.:39:18.

permanent member of the security Council, because it is currently the

:39:19.:39:22.

president, because it is that pen holder, because it has a closed

:39:23.:39:27.

listenership with Saudi Arabia, one of the major parties in this, and

:39:28.:39:31.

what the people of Yemen need more than anything else at the moment is

:39:32.:39:35.

peace, and we have some power in this conflict. We can do something

:39:36.:39:36.

about it tomorrow. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I

:39:37.:39:50.

briefly make the point that I just wish there was more time to respond

:39:51.:39:54.

to what I think has been a very good debate. I have eight minutes to do

:39:55.:39:59.

my best to give justice to what I thought was an excellent debate. A

:40:00.:40:03.

reminder that the House actually does take these matters very

:40:04.:40:05.

seriously, and I join others in paying tribute to the right

:40:06.:40:11.

honourable member for Leicester East and others who put forward this. I

:40:12.:40:14.

will do my best to rattle through his point and as usual I will give

:40:15.:40:19.

members more details. I make the point as I did before. I find it

:40:20.:40:24.

bizarre we are passing for and Aaron to adjournment debate which normally

:40:25.:40:28.

lasts 30 minutes. -- that we are pausing. But I will focus on the

:40:29.:40:34.

right Hadi's points. -- the right Honourable member's points. It is

:40:35.:40:38.

the scale of the tragedy that is well known to us all. 70% of the

:40:39.:40:43.

population are no needing humanitarian assistance, and in

:40:44.:40:48.

answer -- no needing. In answer to the honourable lady, Britain

:40:49.:40:50.

continues to play a leading role, and swift by the prejudice or

:40:51.:40:56.

interest of any other countries whatsoever -- and suede. We are the

:40:57.:41:00.

pen holder, as she said, we are determined to do that job without

:41:01.:41:03.

prejudice or influence from other nations, for what we see is best. We

:41:04.:41:09.

shall leadership at the UN as well as the number of nations around the

:41:10.:41:14.

Middle East that are looking towards this, who met recently in February.

:41:15.:41:22.

I met if you are clad and we did discuss what other parameters we

:41:23.:41:28.

need in place for a ceasefire to actually work and then for our UN

:41:29.:41:32.

resolution to be supported -- I met Ishmael Ahmed. Many right honourable

:41:33.:41:34.

member 's have mentioned the importance of the port of Hudayda

:41:35.:41:37.

and this cannot be underestimated. Looking at the country there are two

:41:38.:41:41.

critical access points, one in the South in the port of Aden and the

:41:42.:41:45.

other half we the Red Sea, the port of Hudayda itself, and the

:41:46.:41:47.

population there is 3 million people. If the civil war going on

:41:48.:41:52.

their moves into that area, it will devastate that city displacing

:41:53.:41:58.

probably about half the people who live there, 1.5 million people,

:41:59.:42:02.

causing absolute mayhem, furthering the prospect of famine and indeed

:42:03.:42:06.

actually leading to a refugee crisis as well. Not only that, but it will

:42:07.:42:12.

flatten the port itself and if we are frustrated with the amount of

:42:13.:42:15.

aid getting through the port at the moment, it will be even worse if the

:42:16.:42:22.

battle were to commence in that urban populated area. So we do call

:42:23.:42:26.

upon the coalition and the Houthis to recognise that the world is

:42:27.:42:30.

watching and they do need to come back to the table. This will not be

:42:31.:42:33.

sorted by military solution. It will be sorted by a political one and it

:42:34.:42:36.

is very important that is recognised. A lot has been said

:42:37.:42:41.

about these cranes and can I just make it clear that firstly that old

:42:42.:42:47.

cranes were bombed a number of years ago, and the new cranes, yes, they

:42:48.:42:52.

were not going to go and they are no sitting in Dubai and the reason they

:42:53.:42:56.

have been moved to Dubai is to keep them out of harm's way because no

:42:57.:42:59.

one knows what will happen to the port of Hudayda because it is

:43:00.:43:02.

unclear where the battle is going so I just reiterate the point how

:43:03.:43:07.

unhelpful and wrong it will be for us not to work towards a peaceful

:43:08.:43:10.

solution. The right honourable member I think was right to say this

:43:11.:43:15.

is not intractable. There is a power for peace. There are an awful lot of

:43:16.:43:19.

plates spinning in the Middle East, no doubt about it, but Yemen I

:43:20.:43:23.

genuinely believe is one that can be solved but we do need the will of

:43:24.:43:26.

the Yemeni people as well. My right honourable friend for Sutton

:43:27.:43:30.

Coldfield who I have a huge amount of respect for, he made at helpful

:43:31.:43:35.

visit I think, although not endorsed, to go there, but in his

:43:36.:43:41.

own way he went there and he shared his findings. He spoke about and

:43:42.:43:47.

paid tribute to UN agencies which I join him in doing, and he also spoke

:43:48.:43:51.

about the difference in strategy between different departments. I

:43:52.:43:54.

make it very clear there is one clear strategy but, yes, I can see

:43:55.:43:58.

the dilemma on the one side, being determined to get aid into the

:43:59.:44:03.

country, then another side, this procrastinated war which this

:44:04.:44:05.

coalition is pushing, and they are not doing a particularly good job

:44:06.:44:09.

about it. I have been critical of their actions before. They are not

:44:10.:44:13.

used to sustained warfare and have made mistakes. We debated that here,

:44:14.:44:17.

and made it very clear to them on as I said before, that this is not the

:44:18.:44:23.

way this war is going to end. But we certainly support Saudi led efforts

:44:24.:44:28.

to restore stability and check the advance of the Houthis, because this

:44:29.:44:32.

is what started all this in the first place. Let's not forget that

:44:33.:44:37.

Houthis through and would have been taken at the port of Aden had a

:44:38.:44:44.

coalition not answer the call of President Hadi to stand up to his

:44:45.:44:47.

legitimacy. He spoke about weapons... I am afraid I don't have

:44:48.:44:51.

time. He spoke about weapons getting in, and I am afraid they are, Mr

:44:52.:44:57.

Deputy Speaker, getting in by land and sea, not much by the Port of

:44:58.:45:01.

Hudayda, but smaller boats are getting in providing arms right up

:45:02.:45:05.

and down the Red Sea and indeed the land corridors as well. The UN

:45:06.:45:09.

mechanism is not working as well as it could do because it is unable to

:45:10.:45:13.

capture all those boats moving in. My right honourable friend made

:45:14.:45:17.

something I have to contend with, and we can discuss this after. I

:45:18.:45:23.

don't agree somehow that because Al-Qaeda is fighting the Houthis

:45:24.:45:26.

that we should somehow have some form of alignment with them.

:45:27.:45:30.

Al-Qaeda's track record shows we cannot entertain any alliance

:45:31.:45:34.

whatsoever. They have brought in and harm to the Middle East and indeed

:45:35.:45:38.

to Europe as well. I will briefly give way. I should make it

:45:39.:45:46.

absolutely clear, Mr Deputy Speaker, nobody regards Al-Qaeda with greater

:45:47.:45:49.

abhorrence than me. The point I was making was that in this particular

:45:50.:45:54.

conflict there are some very uneasy alliances against the Houthis. I

:45:55.:45:59.

apologise, and all she wanted me to give way, but I think it is

:46:00.:46:01.

important my right honourable friend put that on the record. It is very

:46:02.:46:08.

important indeed. Mr Deputy Speaker, many have called for a ceasefire and

:46:09.:46:11.

that is fully understandable given where we actually want to go. But

:46:12.:46:17.

for this to work in practice, Mr Deputy Speaker, there are parameters

:46:18.:46:21.

that need to be in place. We need to have withdrawal lines, we need the

:46:22.:46:25.

decommissioning of heavy weapons or agreement of that decommissioning.

:46:26.:46:30.

We need buffer zones ready or in place or agreed and we need policing

:46:31.:46:33.

mechanisms to manage any violations taking place otherwise it could get

:46:34.:46:38.

out of control and then again the ceasefire is actually breached as

:46:39.:46:43.

well. In my discussions with not only the UN envoy, but indeed other

:46:44.:46:47.

countries, we spoke about the parameters of what a ceasefire would

:46:48.:46:50.

look like, and the process needed. And they are built around firstly

:46:51.:46:57.

the sequenced security steps including withdrawals, secondly

:46:58.:47:01.

agreed rules and appointments, in essence a transition leadership.

:47:02.:47:04.

Thirdly, the resumption of discussions based on resolution 2216

:47:05.:47:13.

and the initiative, then signing a detailed agreement, and certainly

:47:14.:47:18.

the finalisation of an actual road map, then the drafting of the

:47:19.:47:20.

Constitution which takes you to the elections as well. This is the

:47:21.:47:25.

ballpark design which the UN envoy is trying to promote and it is the

:47:26.:47:29.

detail which is unfortunately causing problems for all

:47:30.:47:34.

stakeholders to actually sign. But I absolutely make it clear that we are

:47:35.:47:37.

absolutely committed at the UN to try to pursue this. And to ensure

:47:38.:47:41.

that ceasefire eventually comes around. The role the USA has played

:47:42.:47:46.

has been mentioned as well and I will be visiting the USA very soon

:47:47.:47:51.

to make sure they are committed. Rex Tillerson, the new Secretary of

:47:52.:47:54.

State, worked in Yemen for many years and knows the area very well

:47:55.:47:57.

indeed. I make it clear the additional military support they are

:47:58.:48:02.

giving is not designed for them to have more munitions, it is actually

:48:03.:48:06.

designed to give them better intelligence gathering so that less

:48:07.:48:09.

mistakes can be made, but more to the point it is important that the

:48:10.:48:13.

United States works with us and indeed others to actually deter

:48:14.:48:19.

further military action, and to focus on getting that political

:48:20.:48:24.

agreement in place. Mr Deputy Speaker, the UN Security Council

:48:25.:48:31.

resolution 2216 was cleared, in unblocking the political process

:48:32.:48:36.

required, the Houthis and forces loyal to the former president, for

:48:37.:48:39.

them to hand over their weapons. Despite consistent demands from the

:48:40.:48:43.

international community, the Houthi Alliance has refused to discuss

:48:44.:48:46.

these issues with the UN special envoy. They also have taken a series

:48:47.:48:52.

of unilateral steps that have undermined peace efforts, including

:48:53.:48:56.

the establishment of a supreme political Council and a shadow

:48:57.:49:00.

government to rival that of President Hadi's. This, Mr Deputy

:49:01.:49:05.

Speaker, is unacceptable. We do not recognise the rival government and

:49:06.:49:08.

the Yemeni parties must engage with the peace party process in good

:49:09.:49:13.

faith and meet obligations as set out in the UN proposals. Mr Deputy

:49:14.:49:17.

Speaker, in conclusion this government is gravely concerned

:49:18.:49:20.

about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. And we are taking a leading

:49:21.:49:23.

role in the international response. That means not only providing

:49:24.:49:26.

substantial humanitarian aid, but also means using all diplomatic

:49:27.:49:32.

means available to us to support efforts to reach a political

:49:33.:49:36.

agreement and the press for a solution to the economic crisis. But

:49:37.:49:40.

ultimately, as I have said before, it is the Yemenis themselves whom

:49:41.:49:45.

must reach a compromise. The Yemeni people need and deserve peace and we

:49:46.:49:50.

continue to work with international partners to support efforts to

:49:51.:49:54.

secure it. Thank you. Mr Deputy Speaker, with the leave of the

:49:55.:49:58.

House, that's has spoken with one voice today. 45 members have

:49:59.:50:04.

attended the debate over the last 90 minutes. We could have had another

:50:05.:50:09.

90 minutes to discuss this war. It may be a forgotten war outside but

:50:10.:50:13.

it is not forgotten in the House of Commons. And the voice of this House

:50:14.:50:18.

is very clear. We want peace in Yemen, we want a ceasefire, an

:50:19.:50:23.

immediate ceasefire, and we want the aid to come into Yemen to avoid the

:50:24.:50:29.

famine that has been predicted, and we need to start tomorrow. We place

:50:30.:50:34.

that motion in the hands of the minister. We wish it well, and they

:50:35.:50:38.

ask him to come back with better news for us.

:50:39.:50:42.

The question is as on the order paper, as many of that opinion say

:50:43.:50:50.

aye. The contray no. The ayes have it. I would like to put motions five

:50:51.:50:56.

to 12 together. I beg to move. Motions 5 to 12. As many of that

:50:57.:51:02.

opinion say aye. The contrary no. The ayes have it. Before I call the

:51:03.:51:10.

minister to move motion No 13 on the the form, I should inform the House

:51:11.:51:16.

that Mr Speaker has considered the instrument and has not certified it,

:51:17.:51:22.

minister to move. Question is as on the order paper. The ayes have it.

:51:23.:51:32.

Now petition. I rise to present a petition opposing the closure of the

:51:33.:51:38.

DWP office which could result in over a hundred job losses that would

:51:39.:51:43.

affect mainly women workers. The petitioners request the House of

:51:44.:51:50.

Commons urges the Government to ensure that Ansley DWP office is

:51:51.:51:54.

kept open so there are no job losses. Petition. Proposed closure

:51:55.:52:15.

of Annesley DWP office. The question sorry. This House do now adjourn.

:52:16.:52:32.

Thank you. 70 years ago this year, the Burn mining disaster happened in

:52:33.:52:37.

my constituency. It was the worst disaster in shale mining history. 50

:52:38.:52:43.

men went on shift, but only 38 came out alive. One miner's body was

:52:44.:52:54.

brought up, but 14 men were cut off by debris and fire. 15 men from my

:52:55.:53:01.

constituency died in this accident. Earlier this year the towns of west

:53:02.:53:14.

Calder and Seafield paid trib tribute and stories were told by

:53:15.:53:21.

local school-children. Standing in west Calder square that day when

:53:22.:53:25.

tributes were paid, hearing the children recounting the stories of

:53:26.:53:31.

men of burn grange was such a powerful and beautiful trib United.

:53:32.:53:39.

I would like to -- tribute. I would like to pay thanks to the community.

:53:40.:53:45.

I'm proud to have the opportunity to read the names of men again today.

:53:46.:53:50.

The men who lost their lives working for their families and their

:53:51.:53:56.

communities in an industry is that marked by the binges around my

:53:57.:54:08.

constituency. John McGarty, John Livebody, married two of a familiar.

:54:09.:54:16.

I Anthony Gogan. Married. Two of a family. David Muir. Single. George

:54:17.:54:31.

Easton. Married. Three of a family. Henry Cowie, single. William

:54:32.:54:37.

Ritchie, 50, married, three of a family. John Fairly, single. Thomas

:54:38.:54:51.

Heggie, two of a family. William Finlay, married. Three of a family.

:54:52.:55:01.

Samual Pake. William Carroll, married two of a family. David

:55:02.:55:07.

Carroll 38, married. Five of a family. I cannot imagine how the

:55:08.:55:12.

local mining community felt when the pit sirens wailed to warn of

:55:13.:55:16.

disaster. The families running to pit to wait for news and a week that

:55:17.:55:23.

lasted for days. Before they could claim the bodies, today I pay

:55:24.:55:29.

tribute to them and their sacrifice. My grand father went down the pit

:55:30.:55:38.

along the run in eastern colliery in Bathgate. Accidents he told me were

:55:39.:55:45.

part of the job. And I grew up with stories of him hauling himself

:55:46.:55:53.

through crevices at 5, foot #5shgs foot 5, he was sent down the wee

:55:54.:56:00.

nooks that others couldn't fit in. Once the tow rope broke with a

:56:01.:56:07.

loaded tub full of coal and knocked him unconscious, leaving a gash in

:56:08.:56:10.

the back of his head. The truth was, he should never have been where he

:56:11.:56:13.

was, but it was a path well trodden by the miners around him. He

:56:14.:56:18.

survived fine. But he never went that same route again. The scar on

:56:19.:56:22.

his head was a mark shown many times to me as a child and was a remind

:56:23.:56:27.

tore him, he said, that he was one of the lucky ones. I would give way.

:56:28.:56:32.

I congratulate the honourable lady on bringing this forward. It is a

:56:33.:56:37.

need for safety. Does she agree it is essential that Government works

:56:38.:56:44.

with the representatives of industries safety group to develop

:56:45.:56:48.

and lead and implement a strategy that working with these group is the

:56:49.:56:53.

best way to promote health and safety in mines in the United

:56:54.:56:58.

Kingdom. I completely agree with the honourable gentleman. That work with

:56:59.:57:03.

members who work in that community is so vital. And West Lothian

:57:04.:57:10.

council local history library has collected information about the

:57:11.:57:17.

disaster which became part of the scheme. Many communities in the UK

:57:18.:57:21.

do work like this and it is so vitally important that the young

:57:22.:57:27.

people and communities around us remember their industrial heritage.

:57:28.:57:31.

I thank my honourable friend for giving way and I would like to

:57:32.:57:37.

congratulate her for securing this debachlt may I take this opportunity

:57:38.:57:41.

to remember the 207 people who lost their lives at the High Blantyre

:57:42.:57:50.

coalfield on 22nd October 1877. Many local women were widowed and

:57:51.:57:54.

children left without a father in the worst mining disaster in the

:57:55.:58:01.

history of Scotland. Would she agree this provides a lesson from the past

:58:02.:58:14.

on why health and safety should be paramount. I would be delighted to

:58:15.:58:21.

give way. I congratulate her bringing this debate. You have a key

:58:22.:58:25.

note, we must never forget sacrifices that people made and it

:58:26.:58:29.

is important that children and people living within the communities

:58:30.:58:33.

in these later years understand this. In my constituency we are

:58:34.:58:40.

coming up to the 60 anniversary of the the Cairns colliery disaster,

:58:41.:58:45.

where 17 men lost their lives. I want to pay tribute to them and

:58:46.:58:49.

their families and it is important that communities never forget. Thank

:58:50.:58:53.

you. I join him in paying tribute to those lost in his constituency. I

:58:54.:59:00.

welcome such fitting tributes men and their families. It will remain a

:59:01.:59:08.

reminders of sacrifices those men made. The five sisters, the binges,

:59:09.:59:23.

and the binges of Broxburn were serialised by the BBC.

:59:24.:59:28.

Constituencies across the UK have reminders in museums and galleries

:59:29.:59:37.

like Mill Farm and that the Newtongrange that I remember

:59:38.:59:41.

visiting as a youngster, when my grandfather was ill. I asked my mum

:59:42.:59:45.

whether he would be well enough to visit. He was not, but the stories I

:59:46.:59:49.

brought back meant a great deal to him. There have been thousands of

:59:50.:59:53.

deaths in mines, but safety has improved and it has been 50 years

:59:54.:59:57.

since the last mining accident in the UK at the colliery in Wales,

:59:58.:00:07.

where 31 lost their lives. As recently as 2014, the worst accident

:00:08.:00:13.

killed 301 people in Turkey. Four years before, many of us remember

:00:14.:00:19.

the 29 men killed at the pipe river mine disaster in New Zealand and in

:00:20.:00:27.

November 2010, 29er out of 31 miners at the mine in the USA were killed.

:00:28.:00:37.

On January 30th 2000 there was a spill in Romania, 100,000 tonnes of

:00:38.:00:43.

contaminated water broke into the rivers. Although there was no human

:00:44.:00:50.

fatality, it killed up to 80% of aquatic life and it saw the accident

:00:51.:00:58.

hailed a as the worst since Chernobyl. Although the industry has

:00:59.:01:03.

been tainted by issues with health and safety, we have learned a huge

:01:04.:01:07.

amount from accidents such as the one in Burn Grange, to the pit

:01:08.:01:14.

closures and attacks on trade unions in the Thatcher era and the miners'

:01:15.:01:20.

strike. It was strikes that drove my grandmother's family to Glasgow. We

:01:21.:01:23.

remember them today and always. As a result of that strike, mining is no

:01:24.:01:28.

longer as much part of industrial landscape, but health and safety is

:01:29.:01:32.

crucial for those left working in the industry, wherever they are in

:01:33.:01:35.

the world and I do believe that we have come a long way in health and

:01:36.:01:42.

safety improvements, but more need to be done in mining and other

:01:43.:01:47.

dangerous industries. Because many went from our pits into other

:01:48.:01:50.

industrial work, like oil and gas. And it is so important to remember

:01:51.:01:54.

that men and women in the industries have and still do work in some of

:01:55.:02:00.

the most challenging environments. Health and safety is paramount and

:02:01.:02:04.

one such worker who Fopped that path was -- followed that was path was

:02:05.:02:10.

the father of my office manager, who worked in a pit in Edinburgh and was

:02:11.:02:20.

the last of a breed of coal miners. He told me how he was caught in a

:02:21.:02:26.

roof fall and he said going down the leg of a platform where you're often

:02:27.:02:33.

alone and sur rouvended by many -- sur rournded by many -- surrounded

:02:34.:02:40.

by many toxic gases was the most hostile environment he has been in.

:02:41.:02:45.

I was involved in the emergency response of a helicopter going down

:02:46.:02:49.

in 2013. The company I worked for lost a colleague and I spent time

:02:50.:02:53.

with his family and working with many and other companies to review

:02:54.:02:58.

health and safety and emergency response and do our best to ensure

:02:59.:03:02.

an accident could not happen again. The work and the continued

:03:03.:03:08.

improvement of our health and safety xerveg Health and Safety Executive

:03:09.:03:13.

is vital. Piper alpha is the worst accidents in the North Sea and many

:03:14.:03:20.

lessons were learned, including by the health and safety Executive. We

:03:21.:03:27.

all owe a debt of gratitude to those who worked in the pits. And their

:03:28.:03:32.

work and legacy leaves a mark on our landscape and in our lives. We must

:03:33.:03:38.

remember them. I want to ask the minister what she will do and what

:03:39.:03:43.

her Government will do to ensure communities blighted tz by the loss

:03:44.:03:50.

of these industries will get greater invest to embrace the future.

:03:51.:03:58.

Despite goals to become a low carbon economy, we depend on fossil fuels

:03:59.:04:07.

and we are increasing our reliance on imported energy. Coal and other

:04:08.:04:15.

solid fuels make up 10% of the UK's energy imports from countries like

:04:16.:04:19.

Australia and the United States. I have to say we have to look at some

:04:20.:04:23.

of the health and safety practices in those countries and raise

:04:24.:04:27.

concerns. Because you know some of these are subject to international

:04:28.:04:35.

sanctions, over Ukraine for example, which is providing close to half the

:04:36.:04:43.

coal and Columbia. The company response for Russian import coal

:04:44.:04:52.

exports coal and nearly a quarter comes to the UK. Russia's safety

:04:53.:04:58.

record not without blemish and several accidents have happened in

:04:59.:05:08.

Russia. Notably... The mine disaster of 2007 which killed at least 106

:05:09.:05:17.

miners and last year a methane leek triggered two explosions and 26

:05:18.:05:21.

people lost their lives. Over 60% of Russian coal is extracted in one

:05:22.:05:28.

area of Siberia and the human rights of people are being violated and

:05:29.:05:33.

Columbia's health and safety record is appalling. An explosion in

:05:34.:05:40.

January 2011 killed 21 and another at the same mine in 2007 killed more

:05:41.:05:46.

than 30. During the decades long civil war the industry has grown to

:05:47.:05:54.

where it ranks as the fourth largest exporter of coal in the world.

:05:55.:06:03.

This has come at the terrible cost, including the dispossession of

:06:04.:06:12.

communities. Coal not only polluted the air and water but the country's

:06:13.:06:16.

politics as well, but just one company providing support for

:06:17.:06:22.

militias involved in human rights abuses. We should not be condoning

:06:23.:06:27.

dereliction of duty towards these mining communities, but while we

:06:28.:06:31.

still do import coal, we should do it from responsible sources and I

:06:32.:06:34.

would like to ask the Minister if she will review her coal imports,

:06:35.:06:40.

and the countries they come from. In addition we should be doing more to

:06:41.:06:44.

develop and support our renewable sectors to meet our own power needs.

:06:45.:06:49.

In my constituency that Banks Group is a property and mining firm, truly

:06:50.:06:54.

diverse, with a clear vision on the future of renewables. It does

:06:55.:06:59.

pioneering work in redeveloping land used for mining, and they are

:07:00.:07:06.

responsible for the Northumberland the restoration which is also known

:07:07.:07:09.

as the Lady of the North. In partnership with North Lanarkshire

:07:10.:07:15.

Council, the renewable project will ensure ?69 million of economic

:07:16.:07:21.

benefit for the area well ?1.74 million in jobs and training fund to

:07:22.:07:26.

support 400-450 local unemployed people into work, further education

:07:27.:07:31.

or workplace training. It is this sort of ambitious forward thinking

:07:32.:07:33.

and environmentally friendly initiatives inessential as we work

:07:34.:07:38.

towards low-carbon goals. My final request, and I know I am asking a

:07:39.:07:41.

lot of the minister, is to ask she sets up specific funds for the

:07:42.:07:49.

communities of former coal and shale mining areas to help them provide

:07:50.:07:52.

for the future. In my constituency work has been done in engaging with

:07:53.:07:55.

local schools, but economically it could and should support the areas

:07:56.:07:59.

that have never recovered from their heavy industries being taken away

:08:00.:08:06.

and damaged so irreparably. At the time they got little or no support

:08:07.:08:10.

from the then Conservative Government. They have sacrificed

:08:11.:08:13.

more than they should and indeed provided for the whole country. We

:08:14.:08:16.

owe them our gratitude and support and I call on this Government to do

:08:17.:08:22.

all it can to ensure those former mining communities thrive and

:08:23.:08:25.

develop new industry where the old ones once stood so valiantly. Thank

:08:26.:08:32.

you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I want to start by thanking the

:08:33.:08:37.

honourable member for securing this debate and her passionate speech on

:08:38.:08:41.

an issue which is important to her and her constituents, and to this

:08:42.:08:46.

Government and this House. It gives us the opportunity today to

:08:47.:08:50.

recognise the bravery of those workers at the mine who, in

:08:51.:08:56.

providing for their families and securing resources for our country,

:08:57.:09:01.

paid the ultimate sacrifice. The honourable member and her

:09:02.:09:05.

constituents have rightly mark the 70th anniversary of that appalling

:09:06.:09:09.

disaster with honour and dignity for the men who did not come home to

:09:10.:09:17.

their families on the 10th of January 1947, and, if I may, one of

:09:18.:09:21.

the most moving parts of the tribute she paid was reading out the names,

:09:22.:09:26.

but also the ages of those impacted by this, and I think we get the

:09:27.:09:34.

impression from that that this is really how this does affect the

:09:35.:09:40.

whole community. It is often a job that people will be in for a life,

:09:41.:09:51.

and ages ranging 24-50 I think give a sense of that, and I thought that

:09:52.:09:54.

was a very moving part of her speech. I think she has done a

:09:55.:10:00.

tremendous job in paying tribute to all those killed and all those

:10:01.:10:08.

affected by that disaster, but all those who also work and have worked

:10:09.:10:12.

in that profession and the communities that support them. It is

:10:13.:10:16.

a rare occasion when we read out the names of people killed in such

:10:17.:10:19.

tragedies in this place, but I think it is very fitting that she has done

:10:20.:10:27.

that, and I also understand from the clerks that she tabled this debate

:10:28.:10:31.

to try to get it to fall as close as she could to the anniversary and

:10:32.:10:36.

things never work out perfectly, but I think that her constituents and

:10:37.:10:43.

many others will appreciate that. And it is important that we do that

:10:44.:10:47.

and have done that today. Before I go on to speak about some of the

:10:48.:10:55.

UK's safety record and the other issue the honourable lady races, I

:10:56.:10:59.

would like to just touch on some of the international tragedies that

:11:00.:11:03.

have also occurred. She mentioned some. There are sadly many others,

:11:04.:11:11.

1995, when 104 miners died falling down a shaft in South Africa. 2006,

:11:12.:11:19.

when 65 coal miners were killed in a gas explosion in northern Mexico.

:11:20.:11:26.

2007, at least 90 killed in Ukraine's worst mining disaster. And

:11:27.:11:36.

in 2011, 52 people killed in south-western Pakistan after a gas

:11:37.:11:41.

explosion in a deep coal mine. The reason why I think it is important

:11:42.:11:47.

that we remember this is an international issue is that the

:11:48.:11:50.

Health and Safety Executive and the considerable expertise it has, 50%

:11:51.:11:55.

of the inspectorate that looks after this issue as well as others are

:11:56.:12:01.

from the mining industry, and have worked in the mining industry for

:12:02.:12:09.

much of their career. But they have ambitions to export their expertise.

:12:10.:12:13.

The Health and Safety Executive's latest business plan is clearly

:12:14.:12:16.

trying to do more of that, and I think that is one of the things we

:12:17.:12:23.

do have a good record on, we have huge expertise. That is one thing we

:12:24.:12:27.

can do and make a huge contribution, particularly in developing nations,

:12:28.:12:36.

who often when disaster strikes, it is unimaginable there. So I would

:12:37.:12:39.

think that is important and I would encourage them to do that. They are

:12:40.:12:42.

doing a huge amount of work in this area already. Just imagine a couple

:12:43.:12:45.

of recent things they have done, they have been reading some work in

:12:46.:12:50.

Australia and ventilation -- leading some work. On engineering safety in

:12:51.:12:57.

Russia, as well, which the honourable lady particularly

:12:58.:12:59.

referred to, that country, in her speech. I would also pay tribute, as

:13:00.:13:04.

the honourable lady did, to all those who also step in when disaster

:13:05.:13:11.

strikes, and often provide support and expertise to the rescue and

:13:12.:13:16.

recovery when such disasters strike. I am particularly proud of this

:13:17.:13:19.

because the combined International rescue services that are contributed

:13:20.:13:26.

to by the UK's bluelight services train and drill in my constituency

:13:27.:13:32.

annually for such events, and her debate today affords me the

:13:33.:13:34.

opportunity to pay tribute to them as well. Bernard Greenidge and other

:13:35.:13:44.

incidents led to the introduction of a great deal of legislation in the

:13:45.:13:48.

latter half of the 20th-century -- Burngrange. Were a number of

:13:49.:13:52.

recommendations contained in the official report of that particular

:13:53.:13:57.

explosion and fire for improving health and safety in mines,

:13:58.:14:04.

including the use of safety lamps, how explosives should be stored and

:14:05.:14:07.

handled safely, the need for adequate ventilation and the

:14:08.:14:13.

sampling of the atmosphere. Health and safety regulation in this

:14:14.:14:15.

country has improved greatly over the last 70 years. Learning from

:14:16.:14:20.

previous experience in order to try to prevent as far as possible

:14:21.:14:24.

disasters and other incidents that can lead to loss of life, injury or

:14:25.:14:28.

ill-health. At the time the Health and Safety Executive introduced the

:14:29.:14:36.

act in 1974, there were 651 fatalities to employees. The

:14:37.:14:41.

comparative number today is 105. So that is progress made, but clearly

:14:42.:14:47.

still more needs to be done. In 2014, following an extensive review,

:14:48.:14:58.

the Hotels Regulation act replaced all previous legislation relating to

:14:59.:15:01.

health and safety in undergrowth mines. Some 45 sets of regulations

:15:02.:15:08.

and -- underground mines. Importantly, they provided a

:15:09.:15:10.

comprehensive and simple goal setting legal framework to ensure

:15:11.:15:16.

mine operators provide all the necessary protection for Mineworkers

:15:17.:15:20.

and others from the inherent hazards in mines. The regulations contain

:15:21.:15:24.

requirements relating to the key organisational aspects for safe

:15:25.:15:29.

management of the mine, and to the key physical hazards inherent to

:15:30.:15:33.

underground mining. The principal major hazards of which are unique to

:15:34.:15:39.

that particular sector. In addition to the industry specific

:15:40.:15:45.

regulations, mine operators must comply with, there is also the

:15:46.:15:50.

health and safety at work act, the management of health and safety work

:15:51.:15:55.

regulations 1999, the Dangerous Substances And Explosive Act, 2002,

:15:56.:16:01.

and the control of substances hazardous to health regulations,

:16:02.:16:05.

also of that same year. There are around 2000 workers still involved

:16:06.:16:10.

in underground mining, and they deserve the high standards of health

:16:11.:16:15.

and safety. As the honourable member pointed out, often that will mean

:16:16.:16:20.

working in partnership with other organisations, and I thank him for

:16:21.:16:26.

his intervention as well. The Health and Safety Executive has a

:16:27.:16:32.

regulatory intervention plan for every underground mine in Great

:16:33.:16:34.

Britain, no matter whether it is still active or whether it is their

:16:35.:16:38.

for heritage and tourism purposes. This reflects the specific inherent

:16:39.:16:46.

hazards of mines and the previous health and safety performance of

:16:47.:16:49.

those mines. Those that are bearing the greatest risk and have the

:16:50.:16:52.

tourist record received the most attention. -- and have the poorest

:16:53.:17:02.

rigour. Inspectors base their regulars on these plans and a

:17:03.:17:05.

proactive. I understand the Scottish Parliament has tabled a motion to

:17:06.:17:12.

particularly Mark workers' Memorial Day, and I don't know whether the

:17:13.:17:16.

honourable lady might be tabling a similar motion in this Parliament,

:17:17.:17:21.

but that is on Friday the 28th of April, and it does afford us another

:17:22.:17:25.

opportunity to remember all of those who work in these important but

:17:26.:17:32.

dangerous industries, and for us to remember and pay tribute to what

:17:33.:17:36.

they do and those that... I wonder whether at this point the Government

:17:37.:17:42.

representative that is speaking on behalf of this motion would just try

:17:43.:17:52.

and recall that these same miners we are talking about, many of them, the

:17:53.:18:00.

miners who went down the pit, they were the very people that the

:18:01.:18:05.

previous Tory Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, called the enemy within.

:18:06.:18:10.

Does the honourable lady believe that this is an opportune time, when

:18:11.:18:16.

we are speaking about all those people who lost their lives,

:18:17.:18:20.

including those 81 in my constituency at Crest well, where

:18:21.:18:27.

they were consumed by flames, and they had to be locked in. They

:18:28.:18:36.

couldn't get them out, and those 18 people who fell down the shaft at

:18:37.:18:41.

the colliery in Derbyshire to their death, they were the same people

:18:42.:18:46.

that the previous Tory Prime Minister called the enemy within.

:18:47.:18:51.

And I think at this moment it would be right and proper for this

:18:52.:18:56.

Government to say that that wasn't the reality about these people who

:18:57.:19:02.

went down the pit day after day. Surely, this is the time to see it.

:19:03.:19:09.

Well, I hope that in what I have said today and what I will go on to

:19:10.:19:16.

say that I have paid tribute to those people. My maternal

:19:17.:19:24.

grandfather was a miner, and I have spoken about the hazards that people

:19:25.:19:30.

face in those professions and other professions, without whose serve as

:19:31.:19:34.

the country could not continue its industrial projects. We all then a

:19:35.:19:44.

great deal -- we owe them a great deal. I would say to the honourable

:19:45.:19:47.

gentleman that on the politics of these matters we would probably

:19:48.:19:54.

disagree, but I think it is the purpose of the debate that the

:19:55.:19:57.

honourable lady has tabled today that we paid tribute to those that

:19:58.:20:01.

work in these professions and we remember in particular those who

:20:02.:20:13.

lost their lives, particularly at Burngrange, but at other disasters

:20:14.:20:16.

around the world. I am sure that will not have satisfied the

:20:17.:20:18.

honourable gentleman but I will move onto the other point is the

:20:19.:20:22.

honourable lady has raised. Quite rightly, the honourable lady has

:20:23.:20:27.

touched on what we can do through our policies and other Government

:20:28.:20:32.

departments to encourage good practice and to encourage other

:20:33.:20:38.

countries to take health and safety as loosely as we do in the UK. I

:20:39.:20:41.

think in my department, which is responsible for the Health and

:20:42.:20:46.

Safety Executive, there are some considerable opportunities that come

:20:47.:20:50.

with the Health and Safety Executive's moves to export its good

:20:51.:20:53.

practice and I think that is important. Certainly, I will ask my

:20:54.:21:03.

counterparts at the Department of beans to -- at the Department to

:21:04.:21:08.

update the honourable lady on how they are developing their energy

:21:09.:21:12.

strategy to take into account the very valid points the honourable

:21:13.:21:17.

lady raises, and on the other matter of regeneration for these

:21:18.:21:24.

communities, because where I think I am in danger of perhaps agreeing

:21:25.:21:31.

potentially with the honourable member, and things that were not

:21:32.:21:36.

what the Matt Dunn well in the past, it was ensuring regeneration of

:21:37.:21:42.

those areas, industries where entire communities had been dependent on

:21:43.:21:45.

them were collapsing -- what was not done well in the past. Where that

:21:46.:21:49.

happens you want swift intervention and you want investment, and one of

:21:50.:21:55.

the privileges of the first ministerial post I held which was a

:21:56.:22:00.

local government was working with local enterprise partnerships on

:22:01.:22:04.

getting particular investment into those areas, and part of the recipe

:22:05.:22:12.

of success in rebuilding those particular areas was the mining

:22:13.:22:20.

heritage. Many projects that were... Whether they were creating business

:22:21.:22:23.

parks around energy, whether they were creating a tourist offer, quite

:22:24.:22:32.

often it would come back to the mining heritage of those particular

:22:33.:22:36.

areas, so I think that- very well with the important point is the

:22:37.:22:39.

honourable lady has raised about heritage today, and remembering that

:22:40.:22:44.

and giving it the status it should have as part of our nation's

:22:45.:22:46.

history. I will ask the department of local

:22:47.:22:54.

government to write to the the honourable lady to update her on the

:22:55.:22:58.

funding that has gone into former coal mining areas. I will again

:22:59.:23:04.

thank, I will take an intervention. Just before she closes, in terms of

:23:05.:23:10.

funding, she may be aware that the UK Government pulled funding for the

:23:11.:23:15.

cold field communities trust. Is that not something the Government

:23:16.:23:19.

should look at and one final point in terms of mine workers that have

:23:20.:23:24.

survived, she may be aware the Government takes 50% of the annual

:23:25.:23:29.

returns from the mine workers' mention pot. Maybe the Government

:23:30.:23:32.

should reconsider that. The honourable gentleman refers to the

:23:33.:23:40.

trust which was closed and wound up. However, there were other sources of

:23:41.:23:46.

funding made available through the usual funding channels and much of

:23:47.:23:51.

that has been directed into those particular communities. I know that,

:23:52.:23:58.

because I was at the department looking at how those funds had been

:23:59.:24:03.

allocated. But I think that whether it is mining, or whether it is other

:24:04.:24:12.

industries, that are not providing - the support to those communities,

:24:13.:24:16.

wherever they are, we need to have a strong plan and a strong vision for

:24:17.:24:21.

those communities. What is it that is going to replace that? We

:24:22.:24:27.

shouldn't leave people without that. I thank the honourable lady and she

:24:28.:24:34.

has made some positive points. On the matter of distribution of funds,

:24:35.:24:39.

would she consider it appropriate for those former mining communities

:24:40.:24:44.

to be considered alongside the city growth plans and city growth deals.

:24:45.:24:53.

It would seem an ideal criteria to apply. Often it is outside of city

:24:54.:24:59.

centres where the worst areas of deprivation are? I think the

:25:00.:25:03.

honourable lady makes a good point, that if one aspect of what makes a

:25:04.:25:09.

community strong and economically viable is removed, then other parts,

:25:10.:25:14.

education system, attracting teachers in, all sorts of things,

:25:15.:25:19.

then start to become harder. I think it is vital and I know it from my

:25:20.:25:24.

own constituency that there is a clear vision and proposition for how

:25:25.:25:30.

the economy is going to not only grow, but also be stable and that

:25:31.:25:37.

might mean diversification and a different approach to some of the

:25:38.:25:41.

strengths and assets of a particular community. But I think that is the

:25:42.:25:46.

key to success. That is what not only attracts public money and

:25:47.:25:51.

investment, but also private investment as well. That what is the

:25:52.:25:58.

communities need. I will intervene. The minister has failed to answer

:25:59.:26:01.

the point about the money that the Government takes from the mining

:26:02.:26:07.

workers' pension scheme. Can we have an assurance that there are no deep

:26:08.:26:13.

mine pits left in Britain, just a few private mines and a bit of

:26:14.:26:17.

opencasting, can we now have an assurance that the government will

:26:18.:26:22.

cease from taking that money out of the pension scheme, so the miners

:26:23.:26:28.

that she's talking about would get an even better pension? Well, the

:26:29.:26:34.

honourable gentleman raises a serious point that deserves a

:26:35.:26:39.

serious answer and if I could ask him, given the limits that I have in

:26:40.:26:46.

this adjournment debate, if he would write to the pensions minister.

:26:47.:26:53.

Well, I would I'm sure I don't need to encourage the honourable

:26:54.:26:56.

gentleman to keep going, but if he is not satisfied with an answer he

:26:57.:27:02.

should write again. But I am not able I'm afraid to add anything to

:27:03.:27:06.

what the pensions minister will have already told the honourable

:27:07.:27:11.

gentleman. I will unless there are any other interventions, tank all

:27:12.:27:20.

members fo - thank all the members, particularly the honourable lady

:27:21.:27:25.

from Livingston who has given a great service to those who lost

:27:26.:27:31.

their lives in that tragedy. The question is the House should

:27:32.:27:36.

adjourn. The I have as have it. Order. -- The ayes have it.

:27:37.:28:25.

My lords I will repeat a statement made by my honourable friend the

:28:26.:28:30.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the other place. The

:28:31.:28:37.

statement is as follows. Since the Northern Ireland Assembly election

:28:38.:28:41.

on 2nd mar, I have been encouraged in talks with the political parties

:28:42.:28:47.

and the Irish Government. In line

:28:48.:28:49.

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