Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Overseas Humanitarian Work

Tuesday 20 July 2021 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Humanitarian preparedness and response is a priority for the UK's aid budget, with 906 million allocated for the year.
  • The UK Government acknowledges the generosity of UK citizens who have donated to humanitarian relief causes.
  • The UK takes its responsibility to small island nations seriously, though specific support may not fall within the humanitarian spend category.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Owen Thompson SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

Concerns about the impact of reductions in UK aid budget on humanitarian work.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the potential effect of reductions in the UK aid budget on the UK's humanitarian work overseas?

Answer from James Cleverly

Humanitarian preparedness and response is one of the Foreign Office's seven priorities under the leadership of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, and is a priority for the UK's aid budget spend this year. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will spend £906 million to maintain the UK's role as a force for good at the time of crisis.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide a specific recent assessment on the effects of reduced aid budget.

How: General Statement About Priorities, Mentioning Overall Spend

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Patrick Grady SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

Concerns from constituents in Glasgow North who have donated to UK Government aid match programmes but were told that their donations will not be matched until next year.

Question

What is the Minister's message to constituents in Glasgow North who have donated in good faith to UK Government aid match programmes such as those run by Mary's Meals or War Child, who have now been told that the match funding they were expecting for every pound donated by a member of the public will be delayed at least until next year?

Answer from James Cleverly

The hon. Member answers his question in his question. I pay tribute to the generosity of spirit of the people of the UK—who have contributed to humanitarian relief causes and excellent work by FCDO members of staff based in East Kilbride.

Not addressed: Did not address when aid match funds would be released.

How: Praise For Constituents' Generosity, Mentioning Fcdo Staff

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Climate Foreign Affairs
Context

Small island states are particularly vulnerable due to climate change and the pandemic but often do not qualify for aid based on traditional metrics.

Question

What support is being made available to the small island states? They have climate vulnerability and have been devastated financially by the pandemic, but the metrics that are used to calculate whether they count as least-developed countries often do not take into account those particular vulnerabilities. What is he doing to ensure that aid will get to them, and that debt relief is also considered?

Answer from James Cleverly

The hon. Member makes an important point, and we take our responsibility to small island nations seriously. That issue does not necessarily fall within the humanitarian spend, which is designed for more acute need, but we will of course, through things like COP26, take into consideration the factors that are difficult for small nations to deal with.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify what support measures were being made available.

How: Acknowledgment Without Commitment, Mentioning Cop26

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 Owen Thompson SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

The official development assistance budget would have amounted to 1% of covid borrowing. Concerns about the delay in providing a development strategy.

Question

In the absence of the development strategy from the Department, which continues to be delayed, is it now the case for the Government that those who need help the most are relegated to the bottom of the pile to wait for everything else to be done, rather than being put front and centre of foreign policy?

Answer from James Cleverly

The hon. Gentleman seems to disregard the fact that the UK will remain one of the most generous aid donors in the world, spending £10 billion to help some of the poorest people in the world.

Not addressed: Did not confirm whether aid would be prioritised for those in greatest need.

How: Reiterating Overall Commitment

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)