Contributions
574 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD International DevelopmentThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is good to see you in your place. The orders will permit the UK Government to make financial contributions to the African Development Bank and…18 Jun 2020HANSARD International DevelopmentI assure my right hon. Friend that it is a genuine merger. As he knows, I am not a betting man, but it is important that official development assistance is used well not only by…18 Jun 2020HANSARD International DevelopmentGlancing down at my notes, I think I have about 50 things to come back on. To assist the House, I will keep my comments to five minutes and then look through the report of the…18 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: African UnionI thank my hon. Friend for that question. He clearly shares my concern that this is an economic crisis as well as a humanitarian and health crisis. The private sector and the…10 Jun 2020HANSARDDeveloping Countries’ Debt: Private CreditorsThe UK, the G20 and the Paris Club will suspend debt repayments from the poorest countries due this year. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his G20…10 Jun 2020HANSARDDeveloping Countries’ Debt: Private CreditorsLast time, the allocation was split, and I am sure we would want it to be used by developing countries if special drawing rights were exercised. That could be part of the…10 Jun 2020HANSARDDeveloping Countries’ Debt: Private CreditorsI thank the hon. Lady for recognising the work that has already been done on suspension and relief. That will perhaps be looked at again, in terms of private sector relief and…10 Jun 2020HANSARDDeveloping Countries’ Debt: Private CreditorsThe hon. Lady is right that suspension on its own is not an adequate response, but it was the right response to make immediately. She mentions the private sector. The Institute of…10 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: African UnionI was delighted that the chair of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, was able to join and speak at the Gavi summit. This week, I would have spoken to all eight AU…10 Jun 2020HANSARDZimbabweThe humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe is bad. I had been an optimist on Zimbabwe post Mugabe, but things are bleak across the political, economic, social and humanitarian fronts.…11 May 2020HANSARDZimbabweOn Thursday I spoke to the Department for International Development head in Zimbabwe and our ambassador about the situation. They were very clear, as I am, that we need domestic…11 May 2020HANSARDGlobal Supply ChainsI thank the logistics firms across the country, particularly those in Runnymede and Weybridge, for the work that they do. This ministerial team will continue to work with the…29 Apr 2020HANSARDGlobal Supply ChainsKeeping supply chains open is essential for British consumers to access what they need. It will also help British business to bounce back quickly. We must protect the lives and…29 Apr 2020HANSARDGlobal Supply ChainsWe are engaging with businesses in the UK and in developing countries to understand the challenges that they face to protect incomes and livelihoods. For example, in Bangladesh,…29 Apr 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Lady for her interest in Gambia. We were very optimistic about it when it rejoined the Commonwealth. I have visited the country outside my ministerial roles, and…17 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe are opening two new embassies in Niger and Chad. Last month I attended meetings of the G5 and the Sahel Alliance, where I was able to reassure the five countries of the Sahel…17 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the case. I have reviewed a number of these cases as historical cases. Unfortunately, kidnapping is all too common. Various Ministers have…17 Mar 2020HANSARDNigeria: Persecution of ChristiansThe UK condemns all attacks by terrorist groups in north-east Nigeria, including those against Christians, but communities of all faiths have suffered; in fact, the majority of…17 Mar 2020HANSARDNigeria: Persecution of ChristiansAs the hon. Lady says, we accept in full the Truro recommendations. I am meeting the Prime Minister’s envoy again to discuss progress—I think we are about halfway through. The…17 Mar 2020HANSARDNigeria: Persecution of ChristiansMy hon. Friend demonstrates his excellence in this area and makes the very valid point that it is about not just bilateral activity, but multilateral activity and the leadership…17 Mar 2020