Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Wednesday 15 July 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tobias Ellwood requests a meeting with the Secretary of State before her departure from DFID to discuss peace-building strategies using existing funds.
  • Catherine McKinnell inquires about debt cancellation for the world's poorest countries to enable them to focus on health and climate issues.
  • Jacob Young asks about the measures the Department and new FCDO are taking to ensure effective use of taxpayer funds in international aid.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tobias Ellwood Con Newton Abbot
Education Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK's commitment to education for girls globally, the potential challenges in conflict zones.

Question

Commends the Secretary of State for her work on global development. Concerned about peace-building after conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, asks if she will meet him before leaving DFID to discuss a stabilisation force that can operate where NGOs cannot function.

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Secretary of State for International Development)

Agrees to meet Tobias Ellwood before her term ends in DFID to discuss how to maximize UK efforts in peace-building using existing funds like the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

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Q2 Catherine McKinnell Lab Newcastle North
Climate Foreign Affairs
Context

The pandemic's impact on debt payments and healthcare funding in the world's poorest nations.

Question

Expresses concern that many of the world's poorest countries were spending more on debt than health care before the pandemic. Asks if the Government will support calls to cancel those debts so poorer countries can focus on tackling virus and climate change.

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Secretary of State for International Development)

Notes £150 million contribution to IMF emergency fund. Continues to engage in Paris Club discussions and G20 talks to find long-term sustainable solutions for vulnerable countries' debts.

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Q3 Jacob Young Con Colne Valley
Taxation Foreign Affairs
Context

Ensuring UK taxpayers receive value for their international development spending.

Question

Asks what steps the Department and new FCDO are taking to ensure taxpayer funds spent on international aid contribute effectively towards achieving goals set out in manifesto commitments.

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Secretary of State for International Development)

Emphasises commitment to ensuring taxpayer money is well spent. Programs regularly reviewed for effectiveness, performance, and alignment with manifesto commitments. This will be a priority for the new FCDO.

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