Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pakistan: Flood Relief

Tuesday 6 September 2022 · 6 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 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have contributed over 16.5 million to the joint UN-Government of Pakistan emergency appeal.
  • The UK is one of the largest donors of international aid in the world.
  • The Minister praised the British people, especially the Pakistani diaspora, for their efforts to support victims of Pakistan's floods.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Afzal Khan Lab Manchester Rusholme
Foreign Affairs Environment
Context

Recent flooding in Pakistan has caused a humanitarian crisis with one-third of the country under water, causing loss of life and estimated $10 billion damage. NGOs have raised over £15 million.

Question

What steps are being taken by the Government to help provide humanitarian support to Pakistan following recent floods? I hope the Minister will join me in applauding the diaspora community and non-governmental organisations that have already raised over £15 million to help. First, will they urge the International Monetary Fund to review the conditionality attached to loans given to Pakistan? Secondly, will they reverse the 75% cut to UK aid for environmental protection programmes in Pakistan? Thirdly, what further help will they provide to rebuild infrastructure in Pakistan?

Answer from Vicky Ford

I join the hon. Gentleman in praising and thanking the British people, especially the Pakistani diaspora across the UK, for their efforts to support victims of Pakistan's floods. The Government have contributed over £16.5 million to the joint UN-Government of Pakistan emergency appeal, which is 10% of total appeals. I am pleased that the DEC appeal has raised over £11 million from public donations, and this is being used for immediate needs such as water, sanitation, shelter, protection for women and girls, and supporting people to repair homes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific requests about urging IMF review of loan conditions and reversing cuts to environmental protection programmes; no mention of plans for rebuilding infrastructure were provided.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Paul Blomfield Lab
Climate Foreign Affairs
Context

A report in April indicated that UK aid to Pakistan had been reduced dramatically after the government's overall reduction from 0.7% to 0.5%. Today, reports suggest a worsening humanitarian situation as attempts to stop Manchar lake overflowing have failed.

Question

The Minister is right about expressing feelings of the whole House, but she will recognise that UK aid to Pakistan had been reduced dramatically after the government's overall reduction from 0.7% to 0.5%. Reports suggest a worsening humanitarian situation as attempts to stop Manchar lake overflowing have failed. What more will the Government do to help? Will she tell her new leader that tragic events such as this underline the need to prioritise action on climate change, not marginalise it?

Answer from Vicky Ford

We are one of the largest donors of international aid in the world. We have contributed over 10% of the joint UN-Government of Pakistan emergency appeal, which is now £16.5 million. The UK Government focus on immediate needs and long-term strategies. The World Bank is already looking at a long-term needs assessment to help Pakistan recover.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific additional actions were mentioned; climate change was not prioritised.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Afzal Khan Lab Manchester Rusholme
Housing Foreign Affairs Environment
Context

The recent flooding in Pakistan has caused a humanitarian and climate emergency, with one-third of the country under water. NGOs have raised over £15 million to help victims.

Question

I hope the Minister will join me in applauding the diaspora community and non-governmental organisations that have already raised over £15 million to help the victims of this monster monsoon. First, will they urge the International Monetary Fund to review conditionality attached to loans given to Pakistan? Secondly, will they reverse the 75% cut to UK aid for environmental protection programmes in Pakistan? Thirdly, what further help will they provide to rebuild infrastructure in Pakistan?

Answer from Vicky Ford

I join the hon. Gentleman in praising and thanking the British people, especially the Pakistani diaspora across the UK, for their efforts to support victims of Pakistan's floods. The Government have contributed over £16.5 million to the joint UN-Government of Pakistan emergency appeal, which is 10% of total appeals. I am pleased that the DEC appeal has raised over £11 million from public donations, and this is being used for immediate needs such as water, sanitation, shelter, protection for women and girls, and supporting people to repair homes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific requests about urging IMF review of loan conditions and reversing cuts to environmental protection programmes; no mention of plans for rebuilding infrastructure were provided.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Robin Walker Con
Community Security Foreign Affairs
Context

The recent flooding in Pakistan has caused a humanitarian crisis. British Pakistani communities are raising funds to support the victims.

Question

I welcome my hon. Friend's comments about the diaspora and the additional £15 million. In Worcester, our mosque raised £87,000 to support Pakistan after floods in 2010 and once again it is going out of its way to raise money. What more can the Government do to amplify and magnify the contribution from British Pakistani communities?

Answer from Vicky Ford

I thank members of my hon. Friend's mosque in Worcester for their efforts, as well as those of my mosque in Chelmsford, who have been engaged in similar activities. I encourage concerned individuals to support the DEC appeal, which has match funding from the UK Government and ensures that water, food, and other emergency needs get to where they are needed most.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific actions were mentioned for amplifying contributions beyond encouraging support through the DEC appeal.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Mark Eastwood
Foreign Affairs
Context

As trade envoy to Pakistan, I am pleased that the Government have offered aid support following last week's tragic events. The people of Dewsbury are rallying around in huge numbers to support the humanitarian effort.

Question

I am pleased that the Government have offered aid support to Pakistan following last week's tragic events. What action is being taken right now to assist the flood relief effort and what future support can be expected? Will she join me in thanking the people of Dewsbury, who are rallying around in huge numbers to support the humanitarian effort?

Answer from Vicky Ford

I absolutely join my hon. Friend in thanking the people of Dewsbury, and I thank him for his work as trade envoy championing Pakistan. The UK Government have contributed £16.5 million to the joint UN-Government of Pakistan emergency appeal, which is 10% of total appeals. The DEC appeal has raised over £11 million from public donations, ensuring that immediate needs such as water, sanitation, shelter, and protection for women and girls are met.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No detailed current actions or future support plans were provided beyond mentioning contributions to the DEC appeal and UK Government funding.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Climate
Context

1,000 lives lost, 33 million people displaced, one-third of the country under water. The whole House has expressed solidarity with the community in Pakistan.

Question

Catastrophic scenes of flooding in Pakistan: 1,000 lives lost, 33 million people displaced and a third of the country under water. As we have heard today, the whole House has expressed its solidarity with the community, both there and here. In advance of COP27, will the Minister undertake to produce an urgent bilateral plan with Pakistan that looks at mitigation, loss and damage, and long-term plans to avoid this sort of climate catastrophe in future?

Answer from Vicky Ford

The flooding demonstrates how climate change is making extreme weather events more intense and frequent. The UK has committed to doubling the amount of climate finance given to support adaptation to the impacts of climate change, and we are working to transition the world to clean energy sources as quickly as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment was made to producing an urgent bilateral plan with Pakistan; focused more on general commitments regarding climate finance.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email