Live International Development Questions

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:00:00. > :00:00.80 people, although police said it will not know the total toll until

:00:00. > :00:07.the end of the year. Do join me for a round-up of the day in both Houses

:00:08. > :00:20.of Parliament at 11 o'clock tonight. First we have the secretary.

:00:21. > :00:31.Colleagues the results will be announced when they are available.

:00:32. > :00:35.That is what it says here! I expect to announce the results of the

:00:36. > :00:41.ballots at the end of the debate on Grenfell Tower this evening.

:00:42. > :00:51.Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development.

:00:52. > :00:55.Secretary Priti Patel. Thank you Speaker. UK aid plays a vital role

:00:56. > :01:00.in helping the world's poorest in helping tackle and disease and

:01:01. > :01:06.terrorism put up in Africa since 2015, we have provided assistance to

:01:07. > :01:11.13.7 million people. Can I congratulate the Secretary of State

:01:12. > :01:18.this week for population and considering what Mrs Gates had to

:01:19. > :01:27.say about the impact on migration. Will she consider how the core

:01:28. > :01:31.funding for organisations such as IP PF and others can be reinstated in

:01:32. > :01:34.to help the organisations deliver what they have been doing

:01:35. > :01:38.effectively for some years. The honourable gentleman is right. These

:01:39. > :01:44.are important organisations and the UK has led the way on family

:01:45. > :01:48.planning. As we showed yesterday, we are constantly looking at how we can

:01:49. > :01:52.work with important partners on this very essential issue, in particular

:01:53. > :02:04.on family planning and modern methods of contraception and we will

:02:05. > :02:09.review more. Mr Speaker, in the decision by the PM to appointed

:02:10. > :02:14.joint minister for sub-Saharan Africa, can be Secretary of State

:02:15. > :02:22.say what her priorities are for driving forehead HMG's priorities.

:02:23. > :02:29.My friend Mike is absolutely right to commend the two Department

:02:30. > :02:35.working together and there is a good reason for this because we are not

:02:36. > :02:38.one HMG, we are one Government about we have the same priorities right

:02:39. > :02:44.comes to Africa, tackling the big issues but also the essential air of

:02:45. > :02:52.economic development and growing countries like Africa so they can

:02:53. > :02:55.become trading... The assessment of the current situation in the

:02:56. > :02:59.Democratic Republic of Congo and in particular what is the Government

:03:00. > :03:05.doing to assist the humanitarian crisis that but also to ensure Congo

:03:06. > :03:11.can move to democratic elections as soon as possible. I thank my

:03:12. > :03:15.honourable friend and I congratulate him on his reappointment to that

:03:16. > :03:19.role. He is right to stress the significance of what is going on in

:03:20. > :03:24.the DRC right now. It is very worrying. There are many human

:03:25. > :03:28.tearing pressures that we know of in the country and electoral situation

:03:29. > :03:31.and democratic situation is not sustainable right now. We're working

:03:32. > :03:35.on the ground and with our partners to ensure we provide support that is

:03:36. > :03:41.necessary to get the country back on track. In recent years, UK aid has

:03:42. > :03:46.played a key role in helping Ethiopia become more resilient to

:03:47. > :03:49.crises by nicking sure people have a safety net so they do not staff.

:03:50. > :03:54.Would you agree with me that the British public can be proud of what

:03:55. > :04:00.this Government has done? My honourable friend is right and

:04:01. > :04:03.having visited Ethiopia recently just a month ago, we have seen UK

:04:04. > :04:08.aid in action. There is no doubt that the UK is keeping people alive

:04:09. > :04:13.with the humanitarian situation, the drought that has taken place, that

:04:14. > :04:17.at the same time we are supporting the industrialisation of Ethiopia

:04:18. > :04:25.with trade opportunities and British firms creating jobs in the country

:04:26. > :04:30.itself. The Independent commission for aid impact has reported that UK

:04:31. > :04:36.development assistance to Africa was down by a massive 20,000,020 16 and

:04:37. > :04:40.one that Africa is losing out on a spending as the Government diverts

:04:41. > :04:44.money to countries in Europe and Asia. Considering that Africa has

:04:45. > :04:47.the highest proportion of its population living in extreme

:04:48. > :04:52.poverty, can the Minister of State on watching tends to do to reverse

:04:53. > :05:00.the cuts and make sure Africa does not lose out on funding? I welcome

:05:01. > :05:04.the honourable lady to her new role and congratulate in joining the

:05:05. > :05:08.front bench in this role. We have a commitment to .7% and that is a

:05:09. > :05:18.commitment we are proud of. Seven did this serve 74% and the majority

:05:19. > :05:23.of the money does go to Africa in programming. I think it is important

:05:24. > :05:27.to recognise that firstly there is an enormous humanitarian crisis in

:05:28. > :05:31.Africa and we have throughout the years scaled up and lead the way and

:05:32. > :05:35.called on other donors to put more money into Africa on famine relief

:05:36. > :05:45.and we are walking across departments to make sure Africa is a

:05:46. > :05:50.issue. I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State and

:05:51. > :05:55.others with the conflict in Syria and we are doing more on the

:05:56. > :06:03.humanitarian side as well. Will be Secretary of State tell us what has

:06:04. > :06:09.been done to make sure civilians can leave safely including what

:06:10. > :06:16.information they are giving them on routes to escape. The honourable

:06:17. > :06:19.lady, her rights, mass conflict in terms of recapturing the city

:06:20. > :06:24.itself, in terms of the regional support we are providing, we are

:06:25. > :06:30.providing support, medical, food, shelter, all the basics that they

:06:31. > :06:35.need in the region, but they asked specifically about information and

:06:36. > :06:38.we are working with our partners on the ground working in challenging

:06:39. > :06:42.situations to give them communication and guidance as to

:06:43. > :06:51.where the safe places are that they can go to. We might not reach the

:06:52. > :06:57.question for the lady for Bamburgh. May I use this opportunity to thank

:06:58. > :07:04.you for your support for Syrians and that of DFID. Singing for Syrians

:07:05. > :07:11.with all of the support that I have received is now not only to support

:07:12. > :07:14.medical agencies in Syria but for the schools of disabled children.

:07:15. > :07:20.Does my honourable friend agree with me that aid is always worth more

:07:21. > :07:24.spent in the region and with the people caught up in this conflict

:07:25. > :07:29.are really want is to be able to stay as close to home as possible?

:07:30. > :07:35.My honourable friend is absolutely right and I would like to commend

:07:36. > :07:38.her and congratulate her and others involved in singing for Syrians. It

:07:39. > :07:44.is an incredible charity and I commend her on her work. Providing

:07:45. > :07:47.support in the region is what makes a difference in terms of changing

:07:48. > :07:52.lives and saving lives. We have led the way, we have spent over ?2.6

:07:53. > :07:59.billion in the region providing opportunity for those displaced in

:08:00. > :08:07.conflict. Quite obvious to see governments in the... Has she made

:08:08. > :08:16.an assessment of what that would mean for her department on the

:08:17. > :08:20.ground and is she being the voice of reason in this? It is wrong to

:08:21. > :08:29.suggest that we are expanding any conflict at all. Our focus and the

:08:30. > :08:33.Government is one of making short UK aid goes to the people who are

:08:34. > :08:38.suffering through such a bleak situations on the ground right now.

:08:39. > :08:43.We are working across Government and with our partners in the region as

:08:44. > :08:47.well to bring hope where is there is despair and end the conflict with

:08:48. > :08:54.our international partners as well. Before the conflict, the Syrian

:08:55. > :09:00.population was composed of 11% Christians. Quite rightly, the

:09:01. > :09:04.Government have a programme to admit on humanitarian reasons refugees

:09:05. > :09:07.from the camps. But in the early stages, the Christians were not

:09:08. > :09:15.going far comes due to intimidation. Can my honourable friend assure me

:09:16. > :09:21.that there is a fair proportion of Christians in the reception? My

:09:22. > :09:24.honourable friend makes an important port and we are reaching the most

:09:25. > :09:28.vulnerable people across Syria including Christians and UK funding

:09:29. > :09:32.is distributed on the basis that civilians are not discriminated

:09:33. > :09:42.against on the basis of race, religion RSS city. -- RSS city.

:09:43. > :09:45.Meeting the target is a manifesto commitment, enshrined in law and the

:09:46. > :09:55.Government has been unequivocal that we continue to attract on about.

:09:56. > :10:00.Those committing to the target of spending a certain amount of GDP on

:10:01. > :10:05.edge, disease Secretary of State agree that poverty reduction must be

:10:06. > :10:09.at the heart of UK aid spending? I welcome the honourable gentleman to

:10:10. > :10:15.the house. He is right and that is exactly what our aid spending does

:10:16. > :10:19.and poverty reduction is at the heart of the definition in terms of

:10:20. > :10:26.spending and that is what this Government is absolutely focused on.

:10:27. > :10:31.Not by 7% is extremely valuable in alleviating poverty, but would the

:10:32. > :10:36.Secretary of State update the house on a important summit she attended

:10:37. > :10:43.yesterday on family planning and what it has achieved? The issue of

:10:44. > :10:51.family planning is an enormous issue in terms of development and

:10:52. > :10:54.alleviation. We convened yesterday with our co-hosts and many other

:10:55. > :10:58.representatives from around the world came, made big pledges and

:10:59. > :11:03.commitments to tackle the issue of family planning. The UK has led the

:11:04. > :11:07.way when it comes to this, but we are working in the private sector to

:11:08. > :11:13.put more money in this and develop new products. What percentage of the

:11:14. > :11:18.budget will be spent helping developing countries tackle climate

:11:19. > :11:21.change? Will she follow Scotland's example and establish a climate

:11:22. > :11:27.justice fund will her Government tie itself to Donald Trump's attitude to

:11:28. > :11:30.climate change recently described as pushing the Earth 's climate over

:11:31. > :11:32.the brink to become like Venice with a temperature of 250 degrees and

:11:33. > :11:44.reigning sulphuric acid? With regard to this Government's

:11:45. > :11:48.commitment to climate change, we have a signatory to the Paris

:11:49. > :11:52.agreement and we are committed to delivering that. When it comes to

:11:53. > :11:56.percentage of spending, we have a range of spending across the

:11:57. > :12:04.department -- Government departments, working on this issue

:12:05. > :12:08.with DFID as well because we know so much over climate change issues have

:12:09. > :12:13.a massive impact in terms of drought, famine and causing a great

:12:14. > :12:17.deal of harm in different parts of the world. Constituents are coming

:12:18. > :12:23.into Parliament today to set out their concerns about Christians in

:12:24. > :12:27.Syria facing oppression and persecution. Will the Secretary of

:12:28. > :12:32.State use the aid budget to alleviate the suffering of Christian

:12:33. > :12:38.communities during that time of trouble? I thank my honourable

:12:39. > :12:47.friend for her question, UK aid and funding is distributed on the basis

:12:48. > :12:51.to those in need, but importantly standing up for them and giving them

:12:52. > :13:00.a voice in parts of the wild is conflict. As well as recommitting to

:13:01. > :13:04.the UN target of not .7 -- 0.7, how will the Minister consult civil

:13:05. > :13:11.society before proposing further changes, or relaxation of rules? I

:13:12. > :13:16.thank the honourable lady for her question, this is an important area

:13:17. > :13:20.where I have committed to working with all partners, in particular

:13:21. > :13:29.civil society, and in fact civil society and I, a range of NGOs spent

:13:30. > :13:34.some time on this issue two weeks ago, and this is an ongoing dialogue

:13:35. > :13:38.and I would welcome views of other partners on this issue. With high

:13:39. > :13:43.Government's new-found desire to reach out to other parties for

:13:44. > :13:50.ideas, precisely which of the 13 policy ideas in Labour's 2013

:13:51. > :13:54.manifesto does the Secretary of State intend to implement? When it

:13:55. > :14:01.comes to development I think it is fair to say we are in agreement to

:14:02. > :14:03.our national commitment to 0.7%. Hence our constructive exchange

:14:04. > :14:13.right now. With reference to a previous question, on ODA reform, we

:14:14. > :14:23.should be working on this with our international partners. This year we

:14:24. > :14:26.are providing a package of humanitarian support to these

:14:27. > :14:31.particular countries, providing food, shelter and water to those in

:14:32. > :14:35.desperate need. Can I press the Secretary of State

:14:36. > :14:38.and asked her what her department is doing to encourage the Ugandan

:14:39. > :14:41.Government to fully engage in diplomatic efforts to bring warring

:14:42. > :14:49.parties in South Sudan to the negotiating table? South Sudan and

:14:50. > :14:55.the conflict there is an abhorrent situation, I have seen that at first

:14:56. > :14:58.hand. I have absolutely been pressing the Ugandan Government and

:14:59. > :15:02.also other neighbours in the region, they need to step up effectively,

:15:03. > :15:08.call out the appalling behaviour we have been seeing in South Sudan, and

:15:09. > :15:15.the UK's doing everything we possibly can to make sure that

:15:16. > :15:19.message is heard. Can I congratulate the Secretary of State and DFID for

:15:20. > :15:23.coordinating the aid effort in South Sudan with other countries. Does she

:15:24. > :15:29.agree this was let another example where British taxpayers' money is

:15:30. > :15:33.being widely spent keeping alive men, women and children who have

:15:34. > :15:44.been -- happen to share the planet with us? South Sudan is a man-made

:15:45. > :15:50.crisis which has caused thousands to flee their home. UK aid is making a

:15:51. > :16:00.great difference. Number five, Mr Speaker. Last week DFID launched a

:16:01. > :16:07.fund specifically for UK's small UK registered charities with an annual

:16:08. > :16:11.income of less than ?250,000. In I am proud of the work many of our

:16:12. > :16:19.constituents in Cheadle undertake, and small charities are vital to our

:16:20. > :16:21.aid programme and for this -- does my right honourable friend agree

:16:22. > :16:26.with me that providing these funds to our local and small charities, we

:16:27. > :16:33.can improve the connection between our civil society and the important

:16:34. > :16:40.work in helping countries overseas? Small charities are a crucial part

:16:41. > :16:43.of the UK's development over. I would urge all colleagues across the

:16:44. > :16:47.House to encourage their small charities to apply to this fund,

:16:48. > :16:51.because there is a great opportunity to build those links nationally and

:16:52. > :16:56.internationally on these important issues. Will she give priority in

:16:57. > :17:01.allocating funds to areas of the world such as Yemen, where there is

:17:02. > :17:10.a humanitarian catastrophe, where 300,000 people are facing a cholera

:17:11. > :17:14.epidemic? The honourable gentleman is right, and I commend him for

:17:15. > :17:18.raising the issue of Yemen where the conflict is having devastating

:17:19. > :17:21.impact, and of course there is a cholera crisis. We are spending

:17:22. > :17:26.hundreds of millions in providing the necessary life-saving support to

:17:27. > :17:33.the people who are engrossed in that awful conflict. What assessment has

:17:34. > :17:35.my right honourable friend made of the remarkable voluntary and

:17:36. > :17:40.charitable contribution made alongside the Government's work to

:17:41. > :17:44.relieve the crisis in Syria, and how does the department helped to

:17:45. > :17:49.facilitate that were? My honourable friend is right to raise this, and

:17:50. > :17:54.in terms of the support for Syria and the region, UK aid is playing a

:17:55. > :17:59.significant part, we are one of the largest donors, but also the many

:18:00. > :18:04.small charities as we have heard, playing a part as well, and the

:18:05. > :18:07.small charities fund will help to facilitate more UK small charities

:18:08. > :18:20.to do more on international crisis and conflict. Number six, Mr

:18:21. > :18:24.Speaker. The UK was at the forefront of drafting those goals, and is

:18:25. > :18:30.leading a great deal of the implementation. The 28th of March we

:18:31. > :18:35.published a report, DFID's leads on implementation in making sure the

:18:36. > :18:42.single departmental plans drive it through domestically. Winger he will

:18:43. > :18:47.know of my interest in the issue of food waste in particular. Does he

:18:48. > :18:52.agree that with a goal of 12.3, it is not just enough to have a DFID

:18:53. > :18:55.led approach, we won't be able to help farmers in developing countries

:18:56. > :19:03.unless we also tackle the relationship with the supermarkets

:19:04. > :19:10.in this country as well. The right poll has been a leader in food waste

:19:11. > :19:14.in this House. It has to be driven by Defra and the Secretary of State

:19:15. > :19:18.for Defra, monitored by the Cabinet Office and then DFID role is to make

:19:19. > :19:21.sure that internationally, we are consistent with exactly the kind of

:19:22. > :19:27.leadership on food waste that the right honourable member has

:19:28. > :19:30.provided. Winger the commitment to and lamenting the sustainable

:19:31. > :19:36.development goals comes right from the top of the Government. -- in

:19:37. > :19:39.implementing. Does -- on my right honourable friend update the House

:19:40. > :19:47.on when he is asked the officer for national statistics to report on the

:19:48. > :19:51.UK's progress? Winger red they are currently compiling a report for the

:19:52. > :19:55.UN, and we will be submitting ourselves to a voluntary assessment

:19:56. > :20:01.of the UN -- the UK's performance at home and abroad on the sustainable

:20:02. > :20:04.development goals. Given President from's declaration on the Paris

:20:05. > :20:09.agreement, doesn't that blow a hole in the UK's objectives on the

:20:10. > :20:14.climate change agreement as part of the millennium development goals?

:20:15. > :20:19.The UK's obligation under the sustainable development goals is to

:20:20. > :20:23.make -- remain committed to our own performance, we are sticking with

:20:24. > :20:26.the Paris agreement, and we will demonstrate at home and abroad that

:20:27. > :20:36.we really care about clean, renewable energy. Topical questions.

:20:37. > :20:39.Yesterday I hosted a fantastic family planning conference here in

:20:40. > :20:44.London, dealing with the population challenges of regions such as

:20:45. > :20:47.Africa, but also making -- demonstrating UK leadership in terms

:20:48. > :20:52.of how we can help those who do not have a voice on this issue. Will the

:20:53. > :20:57.Secretary of State commitment to change the UK definition of

:20:58. > :21:03.international aid without consultation and approval from this

:21:04. > :21:08.House? I have already said that I am engaged in all parties, not just

:21:09. > :21:11.political parties but also stakeholders and international

:21:12. > :21:18.colleagues as well, because of course our very clear guidelines on

:21:19. > :21:22.OECD rules, we will work with all part -- partners to insure that we

:21:23. > :21:27.can look at the changes necessary. If your tools or your land stolen

:21:28. > :21:30.and there is no redress through the justice system, or if you are too

:21:31. > :21:36.fearful to walk to school because you have been raped and no action

:21:37. > :21:39.has been taken, development is restricted if policy continues. So

:21:40. > :21:45.what action is DFID taking to make sure that justice systems function

:21:46. > :21:50.properly in the domestic were? -- poverty continues. Strengthening the

:21:51. > :21:54.justice systems around the world, particularly in developing

:21:55. > :22:01.countries, is an essential part in our fight against poverty. But also

:22:02. > :22:09.building safer communities and countries, and that is the focus of

:22:10. > :22:12.DFID and UK aid. What is the cycling's -- what is the Secretary

:22:13. > :22:16.of State doing about the plight of hundreds of thousands of Syrians who

:22:17. > :22:23.cannot access any UK aid, because they are still under age by the Al

:22:24. > :22:30.Assad Government. He raises a very serious situation, in Syria and also

:22:31. > :22:32.the besieged areas in which we are struggling, collectively all

:22:33. > :22:35.agencies are struggling to get support and aid to people who

:22:36. > :22:39.desperately need this. We're working with many of the aid agencies on the

:22:40. > :22:46.ground but also the UN in particular. Who are leading the way

:22:47. > :22:49.here, and of course it is a devastating situation in Syria, and

:22:50. > :22:55.we are working with all parties to see what we can do to get supplies

:22:56. > :22:59.in as and when those windows opportunities appear. Winger free

:23:00. > :23:05.trade is essentially -- free trade -- can my right honourable friend

:23:06. > :23:10.update the House on what policies she is taking to update this issue?

:23:11. > :23:16.The UK is committed to ensuring valeting countries can combat

:23:17. > :23:20.poverty through focusing on free trade. -- developing countries. We

:23:21. > :23:26.are encouraging trade preferences with poor countries to make this may

:23:27. > :23:32.help them trade their way out of poverty, and that is an area DFID is

:23:33. > :23:35.focused on. So the whole house can benefit from the mellifluous tones

:23:36. > :23:40.of the honourable lady, perhaps she can face the House when opening full

:23:41. > :23:48.is -- answering. School students from Wrexham and the suit to

:23:49. > :23:53.southern Africa have had a tremendous relationship through

:23:54. > :24:00.personal contact with students in Europe and Africa. -- De Soto. How

:24:01. > :24:04.can we enable that to continue? The honourable gentleman is right to

:24:05. > :24:07.raise these amazing partnerships between our schools in Africa and

:24:08. > :24:12.the UK, and of course DFID is leading the way through many of the

:24:13. > :24:15.programmes we have, but also through the connecting classrooms programme

:24:16. > :24:23.that is taking place in many honourable and right honourable

:24:24. > :24:29.members' schools. Speaker-macro, trade not aid is the route out of

:24:30. > :24:36.poverty for developing countries. With the Secretary of State agree --

:24:37. > :24:41.would the Secretary of State agree that leaving the EU will allow this

:24:42. > :24:47.country to lower its tariffs and allow developing countries to trade

:24:48. > :24:54.with us? My honourable friend makes a very, very important and relevant

:24:55. > :24:58.point. As someone who also campaigned to leave the EU, I think

:24:59. > :25:03.it is absolutely right that when we bring forward our trade preferences

:25:04. > :25:07.through future legislation as we leave the EU, that will enable many

:25:08. > :25:16.poor countries to leave behind poverty and get on the path to

:25:17. > :25:21.prosperity. 95% of drinking water in Gaza now being unsafe to drink,

:25:22. > :25:27.we're now fast becoming -- approaching the part -- pod of Gaza

:25:28. > :25:33.being uninhabitable is. What is the Government doing to ensure we do not

:25:34. > :25:39.reach that point, and pushing the plans for a desalination plant?

:25:40. > :25:42.According to the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian

:25:43. > :25:46.affairs, most homes in Gaza are only getting water for a few hours every

:25:47. > :25:50.three to five days. The availability of safe drinking water has become

:25:51. > :25:54.worse, the UK encourages all parties to find a sustainable solution to

:25:55. > :26:01.the problem, and in the longer term continues to urge the authorities to

:26:02. > :26:06.ensure fair distribution of water. Can the Secretary of State assure me

:26:07. > :26:10.that her department will work closely with disability focus

:26:11. > :26:14.organisations, so that the UK's efforts to improve access to

:26:15. > :26:19.education for disabled children in developing countries are successful?

:26:20. > :26:25.Let me start by welcoming my honourable friend to the House. We

:26:26. > :26:30.are committed in the UK to focus on disability in poor countries, and

:26:31. > :26:33.also importantly enable those that are disadvantaged in some of the

:26:34. > :26:45.most pro--- poorest parts of the world. Yet the macro myself on the

:26:46. > :26:48.honourable member for Brock still have been to Jordan and met the

:26:49. > :26:52.people on the ground who are really worried about the potential

:26:53. > :26:55.instability as a result of accepting so many Syrian refugees. What the

:26:56. > :26:58.Government agree that ensuring stability in host countries who are

:26:59. > :27:08.opening their doors is an absolute priority? The honourable lady will

:27:09. > :27:13.have seen the impact of the Syrian conflict that is happening in Jordan

:27:14. > :27:17.and the region, and Jordan as a host country has been heavily supported

:27:18. > :27:23.by the United Kingdom, by UK aid, to provide all the essential things

:27:24. > :27:27.they need. Can the Secretary of State insure their department works

:27:28. > :27:30.to try and ensure that more women in the developing world have access to

:27:31. > :27:37.advice and support on contraception and family planning? My right

:27:38. > :27:40.honourable friend is right, and I would state again that we hosted a

:27:41. > :27:46.summer yesterday on this very issue, and will continue to lead the way in

:27:47. > :27:50.standing up for women's rights in developing countries, but also

:27:51. > :27:56.pioneering more work and support in family planning and contraceptives.

:27:57. > :28:07.Does the Minister agree with me that proposals in Israel, discussed last

:28:08. > :28:12.month by the Israeli Government, on this construction of a Gaza seaport

:28:13. > :28:23.to ease the situation in Gaza, and will support this initiative? The

:28:24. > :28:28.idea of a new seaport could open up all sorts of things in Gaza, and

:28:29. > :28:32.change the situation for the people there quite materially. It is a very

:28:33. > :28:33.interesting proposal, and I'm interested to see how far it is

:28:34. > :28:49.taken. Yet the macro -- British funded refugee

:28:50. > :28:52.camps across Turkey have been preventing illegal migration into

:28:53. > :28:59.Europe. Is it time to commit a similar scheme in North Africa.

:29:00. > :29:06.We are providing a great deal of support to migrants with

:29:07. > :29:22.humanitarian aid, and looking at the flows of people.

:29:23. > :29:35.The British Government is leading the response to West Africa. Can the

:29:36. > :29:40.Secretary of State update the House. Parred in East Africa specifically

:29:41. > :29:46.we have led the way in humanitarian and emergency food assistance, given

:29:47. > :29:48.help to over 2.4 million people. Questions to the Prime Minister.

:29:49. > :29:59.Caroline Flint. Question number one. Mr Damian

:30:00. > :30:10.Green. My right honourable friend is

:30:11. > :30:16.welcoming the king and queen of Spain on their state visit to the

:30:17. > :30:23.United Kingdom and I am sure the whole House wishes them well. Isn't

:30:24. > :30:28.today's report that the National Grid made ?3 billion profit in 2016

:30:29. > :30:35.at the expense of households further evidence the Government is not

:30:36. > :30:36.delivering their energy prices? Will the Government agreed to