Contributions
1,991 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsI agree with my hon. Friend in relation to the concerns he has raised about Iran’s conduct. We do want to keep the joint comprehensive plan of action. We would like to do better…30 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs I set out in my statement on 19 June, in relation to cyber-attacks we stand shoulder to shoulder with our Australian close friends, partners and allies. We work closely across…30 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI know that the hon. Gentleman follows this issue assiduously. I have raised with the Indian Foreign Minister issues in relation to human rights in Kashmir. We continue to regard…30 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerThe hon. Gentleman talks about not politicising and then he comes up with a comment like that. Of course, we will look very carefully. We understand—I want to be clear about…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerI thank the hon. Gentleman for his constructive and measured response to this proposal. He asked a series of serious questions, and it is incumbent on me to respond to them. He…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerHe is shaking his head before he receives the answer—I thought we were going to have a sensible debate about the pros and cons of this change. I listened carefully to what he…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerI thank my right hon. Friend and pay tribute to her expertise and experience in this area. We are not proposing to integrate DIT into the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerI begin by thanking the hon. Lady and welcoming this opportunity to respond to her question on the merger between DFID and the FCO. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced that…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerWe have of course taken this merger decision now because we can see that we need to be as effective as we possibly can be during this coronavirus challenge. Equally, it will help…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerI had thought we were on the cusp of a very serious question but it descended into political cut and thrust. Actually, what we are really focused on, and what this crisis has…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerI agree with everything my hon. Friend says. He mentions our right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield. I pay tribute to the incredible work he did at DFID. We are…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerI fundamentally disagree with the hon. Lady, but I respect her view. I actually think that Africa—we mentioned Nigeria and Kenya as two examples—is an area where we really need to…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerMay I thank my hon. Friend and say what a fantastic Minister she was for the Asia-Pacific region? She will know first hand what can be done when we combine all the resources,…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerMay I thank my right hon. Friend and say what a fantastic Minister he was in the Foreign Office? I worked very closely with him and he was exceptional. He will know from his…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerI pay tribute to the work that the hon. Lady does in this area. I do not think it is right to say that we are having no scrutiny. I am here before the Chamber, the Prime Minister…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerI thank my right hon. Friend, the Chair of the Education Committee, who always manages to get apprenticeships into every question he asks with fantastic zeal and enthusiasm. I…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerMy hon. Friend is absolutely right, and that is exactly what this merger is all about. Ultimately, it is not about the institutional mechanics, but about the strategic objectives…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerThe hon. Gentleman raises exactly the point at issue. We want to maximise our focus and funding, but also our political effort, on those key priorities and ensure that we are…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. Indeed, we are taking advantage of those officials—I have asked Nic Hailey to head up some of this work in the Foreign Office, as he has…18 Jun 2020HANSARDDFID-FCO MergerI thank the hon. Lady for her question. I know that she takes a very close interest in this matter. In relation to conflict situations in particular—I have mentioned Yemen, but I…18 Jun 2020