Contributions
626 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilMy hon. Friend is making an important point. One of the bigger issues is the speed at which the cuts were announced, which did not give time for any of the organisations that saw…30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilWill my hon. Friend give way on that point?30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilI am delighted to hear my hon. Friend reassert the values of the Commonwealth, and I totally agree, but perhaps I should point out to him the fact that these cuts are going to hit…30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilWill my hon. Friend give way on that point?30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilHow temporary is “temporary”?30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilMy hon. Friend is making a tremendous speech, although I happen to disagree with all of it. He is showing his true parliamentary skills, but the point is that we have arbitrary…30 Jun 2021HANSARDEngagementsYesterday I was in Batley and Spen, campaigning with our fantastic candidate Ryan Stephenson. He is committed to delivering the police that we need on our streets. So from Brixham…30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilI am sorry to interrupt my hon. Friend. It is fine if that is his argument, but surely he believes that it is right for this House to have a vote on the issue, because we are all…30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilWill my hon. Friend give way on that point?30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilIt is on that point—I can give the answer. We committed in our manifesto in 2019 to funding research and development at 2.7% of our GDP. We commit to NATO spending at 2% through…30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilThe hon. Gentleman makes a fantastic point, and it is one that I will end on. If we are uncomfortable with how people view 0.7%, it is down to this House and to us as Members to…30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilQuite right. If I had children I would be going back to say exactly the same thing—all to come, I am sure. The debate is also about the British Council. I have lived in Singapore…30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilI would respectfully say to all of my hon. Friend’s constituents—I am happy to speak at any association event in the future—that their lives are no less valuable. What we are…30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilThat is incredibly welcome news. My hon. Friend is right: there has been a double whammy in the reduction. International organisations have to deal with not only the cut itself…30 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance and the British CouncilWith the greatest respect, the policing budget is not being cut. In addition, my hon. Friend is trying to make the point that by cutting the international aid budget he is going…30 Jun 2021HANSARDShellfish IndustryWhat steps his Department is taking to support the shellfish industry.17 Jun 2021HANSARDPreventing Sexual Violence in Conflict InitiativeI beg to move, That this House has considered the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and the G7. May I start by thanking the Backbench Business Committee for…17 Jun 2021HANSARDPreventing Sexual Violence in Conflict InitiativeI thank the Minister for his response, because there was a great deal to cover from over the course of this debate. A whole host of issues have been raised by Members with great…17 Jun 2021HANSARDPreventing Sexual Violence in Conflict InitiativeI thank my hon. Friend for that excellent intervention. We now have a US President who has form in addressing gender-based violence and preventing sexual violence in conflict.…17 Jun 2021HANSARDShellfish IndustryI thank the Minister for that incredibly helpful answer and for visiting my constituency yesterday to see the fishermen and shellfish industry of Brixham—it is deeply appreciated.…17 Jun 2021