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International Engagement
28 October 2024
Lead MP
Anneliese Dodds
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
EconomyClimateForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 22
At a Glance
Anneliese Dodds raised concerns about international engagement in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
With permission, I make a statement on re-establishing Britain's global presence focusing on international development. Following visits to South Sudan, Indonesia and the UN General Assembly in New York, my vision for modernising international development was outlined at Chatham House last week, underlining our commitment to genuine partnership and respect with other nations. We aim to reform the multilateral system and ensure UK expertise is central to reliable partnerships. At the World Bank meetings, I announced UK support for a gender equality facility, boosting women’s economic empowerment and growth; the Government will also match up to £10 million of public donations for humanitarian aid in the Middle East. The recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa was historic, setting out our priorities for economic growth, tackling climate change and creating opportunities for future generations. We announced a new UK Trade Centre of Expertise and committed seed funding for a Commonwealth investment network to identify opportunities across members states. A key focus is on protecting the ocean and supporting democratic governance. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary raised ambition to protect 30% of the planet’s oceans by 2030, urged ratification of the agreement on marine biodiversity and backed an ambitious global plastic pollution treaty. We will continue funding for Commonwealth and Chevening scholars. Our message is clear: the UK remains a reliable, respectful partner committed to growing our economy and bringing opportunities worldwide.
Harriett Baldwin
Con
West Worcestershire
Question
Will the Minister confirm that Chevening scholarships will continue on the same scale after Wednesday’s Budget? What is the Government's red line on reparations for slavery given previous statements and views? On paragraph 16, what is our position on UN Security Council reform and giving away our permanent seat? Regarding paragraph 43, what steps are UK taking as penholder on Myanmar to bring about outlined measures?
Minister reply
The Government will continue funding Chevening scholarships. The red line on reparations remains unchanged despite previous views; details of the Commonwealth's position can be clarified further. Our position on UN Security Council reform is cautious and we do not rule out giving away our permanent seat lightly. Regarding Myanmar, we are actively working to bring about measures as penholder.
Harriett Baldwin
Con
West Worcestershire
Question
Asked about the UK's commitment to reparations in relation to the slave trade and requested clarity on the Government’s red line. She also questioned the delay in disbursement of £707 million to IDA, asked about the position on UN Security Council reform, actions on Myanmar, and confirmed that Commonwealth scholarships and programmes will continue at the same scale after Wednesday's Budget.
Minister reply
The Minister clarified that while condemning the slave trade, the UK does not pay reparations. She reiterated the commitment to economic development, youth employment, women’s empowerment, and climate action. On UN Security Council reform, she stated that better representation of global south partners is needed but permanent seat responsibilities are taken seriously. Regarding Myanmar, they have communicated concerns about human rights abuses. On IDA, the Government will increase its contribution as urged by the Prime Minister.
Southgate and Wood Green
Question
Asked for further elaboration on discussions with international counterparts regarding IDA replenishment ahead of IDA21 in December.
Minister reply
The Minister highlighted the critical importance of IDA to the World Bank’s architecture, stating that it provides support to the poorest countries and grows economically when supported. She confirmed that the UK will increase its contribution, urging others to do the same.
Monica Harding
Lib Dem
Esher and Walton
Question
I thank the Minister for advance sight of her statement. As I set out during the Second Reading of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill last week, the Commonwealth is a vitally important multilateral organisation and we support work to strengthen it. The Minister references the new Government’s approach on international development. It is on this particular issue that I hope she will set out further detail. We welcomed the reference to the sustainable development goals in her speech at Chatham House last week. Regrettably, the Labour manifesto did not mention the SDGs. Will the Minister affirm that the SDGs are at the heart of the UK’s development vision? On development, it is vital that we honour our international commitments and, to that end, restore the 0.7% of GNI target for international development spending.
Minister reply
I suspect that the hon. Lady has many things to do with her time, and the Labour manifesto for the general election may not be her first priority as bedtime reading, but let me gently encourage her to look at it, because she would see that it does refer to the sustainable development goals.
Alice Macdonald
Lab Co-op
Norwich North
Question
Next year will mark 20 years since the Gleneagles summit, when G8 leaders agreed to an ambitious debt cancellation deal under the previous Labour Government. At present, however, the unfair debt burden is holding back many developing countries, including some in the Commonwealth. What discussions has the Minister had on this important issue, and what are our plans?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend has considerable expertise in this area, as do many Members among the new intake, as well as those who were here before.
Maldon
Question
May I ask the Minister about another of the Foreign Secretary’s recent visits, to the Republic of Korea? Does she agree that the agreement to strengthen the defence and security dialogue with South Korea is very welcome, as is the condemnation of the support from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea—both with weapons and, now, with troops—for Russia in its illegal invasion of Ukraine?
Minister reply
I am very grateful for that important question, and I am pleased to report that relations between the UK and the Republic of Korea are at their closest ever at the moment.
David Taylor
Lab
Hemel Hempstead
Question
I declare an interest, in that before being elected to represent the people of Hemel Hempstead I worked for the Fairtrade Foundation. The Minister will be aware, through her own support for fair trade, of the vital role that the foundation plays in supporting smallholder farmers, but of course there are millions of smallholder farmers around the world. I should be grateful if she could update the House on the ways in which the Government, through the World Bank, are supporting smallholder farmers and sustainable agriculture.
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this issue.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
When one group of people have done something terrible to another group of people, it is understandable that resentment about it can pass down to the next generation and possibly the generation after that, but does the Minister agree that to suggest that that process can continue over two centuries, and thus require guilt to be expiated in the form of reparations, is to make a nonsense of the concept of individual responsibility?
Minister reply
The Government’s view is that we have to focus on the future, and that is the approach that we took at the CHOGM meeting.
Phil Brickell
Lab
Bolton West
Question
I welcome the Minister's repeated references to tackling both the climate and the nature crises. In the context of the Prime Minister’s recent attendance at CHOGM, we know that many Commonwealth countries are among those most exposed to climate change, and that that has a particular impact on small island states such as Samoa. Will the Minister outline in more detail the work that the Government are doing to put climate at the heart of our foreign and development policy?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising such an important issue.
Ashley Fox
Con
Bridgwater
Question
Can the Minister comment further on paragraph 22 of the Commonwealth Heads of Government statement to which the Prime Minister put his name? It states that the Heads of Government, “noting calls for discussions on reparatory justice…agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity.” “Based on equity” is the language normally used by those seeking compensation. Can the Minister explain what it means in plain English? Does it mean parting with taxpayers’ money, and if not, what does this statement mean?
Minister reply
I did state earlier, but will restate for the hon. Member’s benefit, that we have been very clear about the fact that UK does not pay reparations.
Glasgow West
Question
I very much welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement this afternoon. Does she agree that the best path to global growth and prosperity is one that includes women and girls? Will she set out how the Government and the World Bank intend to achieve that?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that important subject. Globally, an enormous amount of growth could be unlocked by increasing women’s economic opportunities. The World Bank has estimated that about 20% could be added to global GDP if women were able to work more and their pay was more reflective of men’s pay.
Chris Law
SNP
Dundee Central
Question
I thank the Minister for advance sight of her statement. I want to raise a couple of points. First, it is only a few years ago that the Foreign Secretary said: “We don’t just want an apology, we want reparations and compensation.” Last week, however, the Prime Minister could not even bring himself to make a formal apology, so I hope the Minister can bring herself to do so today. Secondly, the Minister said that “at home and around the world…Britain is back”. There are two reasons for that: first, there was a reduction in ODA spend to 0.5% of GNI; and, secondly, there was the merger of the Department for International Development, which is in East Kilbride in Scotland. Will there be a return to a separate Department, and how soon does she predict that we will return to spending 0.7% of GNI?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman asks a number of questions, and I will try to cover them as quickly as I can. The new Government are very clear that the slave trade was abhorrent. We condemn it, just as previous Labour Governments did. It is important that we start from there, but it is also important that we are just as clear that there has been no change in our policy on reparations. The UK does not pay reparations—we have been very clear about that.
Jeevun Sandher
Lab
Loughborough
Question
The pandemic, rising interest rates, and rising wheat and energy prices after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine have led to a debt crisis in low-income nations. Some 32 African nations spend more on servicing their debt than they do on healthcare. I used to work in one of the world’s poorest nations, Somaliland. I have seen what grinding poverty can do. The horrors of climate change are leading to drought, hunger and death. Will the Minister consider repeating one of the proudest actions of the last Labour Government by acting to end the debt crisis and, by doing so, help to end extreme poverty once and for all?
Minister reply
I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this issue, and for his passion in doing so. He is absolutely right: many countries have to pay substantial amounts on servicing debt at the same time as having to deal with repeated crises—not least the nature and climate crisis, but also crises deriving from conflict—so we need to show leadership on these issues.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
On reparations, will the Minister accept that there is a clear difference between the Prime Minister’s commendably robust language before he left for Samoa and the language that he eventually signed up to in paragraph 22 of the communiqué? Will she accept that Heads of Government who are watching this process are perfectly entitled to deduce that the UK is now on a journey that will lead to reparations? Will she further accept that there is a clear difference between providing compensation to people who have been harmed by the state, from tainted-blood victims to sub-postmasters, and paying reparations in respect of events that happened 200 years ago?
Minister reply
I have to say that I find the right hon. Gentleman’s question rather surprising. I do not believe that Heads of Government are in any doubt about the new UK Government’s approach to these questions.
Johanna Baxter
Lab
Paisley and Renfrewshire South
Question
Will the Minister join me in welcoming Glasgow’s role as host of the Commonwealth games 2026? Will she confirm that discussions will take place with the Scottish Government to ensure that the benefits of the games are felt not just in Glasgow, but across the whole of Scotland, including in constituencies such as mine?
Minister reply
I absolutely will confirm that. I am so pleased that my hon. Friend has raised this issue. I think that people up and down the whole country are delighted that we will see the return of the Commonwealth games to Glasgow in 2026.
Richard Foord
Lib Dem
Honiton and Sidmouth
Question
I am grateful to the Minister for the update on the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. Next Sunday, volunteers will head to the beach when Sidmouth Plastic Warriors meet to prevent litter from ending up in the oceans. When they do so, they will want to be sure that their Government are encouraging other Governments to take action on ocean plastics. How likely does the Minister think it is that negotiations will be concluded on a UN global plastics treaty by the end of the year?
Minister reply
When the hon. Gentleman’s constituents take part in that activity, they are joining a global movement in which the Foreign Secretary himself was engaged with young people in Samoa.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh South West
Question
I thank the Minister for her statement; I can only respect the breadth of it. I am pleased to hear about the focus on using international development to reduce violence against women and girls, which we all fully support. At a reception last week, we heard personal testimony from people who have been persecuted because of their religious beliefs. Does the Minister feel that the overseas development budget can also be used to reduce violence against religious minorities?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that subject, which is of much concern to many Members across the House.
Rupert Lowe
Ind
Great Yarmouth
Question
Will the right hon. Lady update the House, following the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, on whether the Government have considered a Commonwealth free trade deal and if not, why not?
Minister reply
There are already many strong economic relationships between Commonwealth states. The new Government are very proud of that, and we want to ensure that even faster progress is made.
Aylesbury
Question
New International Rescue Committee analysis finds that just 16 climate-vulnerable and conflict-affected countries, including Sudan, Myanmar and Syria, represent 43% of all people living in extreme poverty and 79% of all people in humanitarian need. What steps are the Government taking to ensure that we address the underlying causes of fragility and get aid into those 16 countries with the highest needs?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this issue, in which she has considerable experience.
Brian Mathew
Lib Dem
Melksham and Devizes
Question
Can the Minister assure us that the Government’s commitment to ODA will not be further reduced to 0.3% of GNI? Is there a timeline to restore it to 0.7%?
Minister reply
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his important question. I have stated this before, but I will state it again. He may not wish to spend a huge amount of time reading the Labour manifesto from the last general election, but if he did so, he would see that the new Government are committed to returning to 0.7% of GNI being spent on overseas development assistance, as fiscal circumstances allow.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
I thank the Minister very much for her positive statement to the House today. Will she further outline what engagements she intends to undertake to secure the rights of women throughout the world, beginning with the rights to choose their life partner, to choose education, to choose employment and to choose a future with hope rather than the drudgery faced by too many women throughout this world? How can the House advocate for this change in a reasoned manner that brings about not snappy soundbites but a real change in those countries in which we retain an influence?
Minister reply
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his important question and the considered way in which he articulated it. I have been disturbed, as I know the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Dame Harriett Baldwin), who speaks for the Opposition, will have been, to see that we are not making as speedy progress on many of these issues as we should be globally.
Shadow Comment
Harriett Baldwin
Shadow Comment
While appreciating Samoa's hosting of the CHOGM and Baroness Scotland’s work for the Commonwealth, I criticise the Prime Minister's absence from this debate. The UK must acknowledge painful aspects of its past while moving forward to create a thriving future Commonwealth. Will the Minister confirm that Chevening scholarships will continue on the same scale after Wednesday’s Budget? What is the Government's red line on reparations for slavery given previous statements and views? On paragraph 16, what is our position on UN Security Council reform and giving away our permanent seat? Regarding paragraph 43, what steps are UK taking as penholder on Myanmar to bring about outlined measures? At IMF meetings in Washington, did the Minister delay a £707 million disbursement to World Bank International Development Association budget?
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