Contributions
3,506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDOfficial Development AssistanceMy Lords, as my noble friend will know, the 0.5% reductions that we have made were carried out on a one-year settlement. As a Minister responsible for multilateral agencies in a…10 Jun 2021HANSARDUN Peacebuilding Fund: Financial SupportI think the noble Baroness referred to me as her noble friend, and of course we are friends outside the Chamber, beyond the formalities. I can reassure her that the Middle East…10 Jun 2021HANSARDUN Peacebuilding Fund: Financial SupportSuffice it to say that I totally agree with my noble friend.10 Jun 2021HANSARDUN Peacebuilding Fund: Financial SupportMy Lords, the short answer to the noble Lord’s second question is yes. It is an excellent idea; it is something I am pursuing, and I will seek to mention it in meetings with the…10 Jun 2021HANSARDUN Peacebuilding Fund: Financial SupportMy Lords, in our approach to Africa, we are funding specific programmes, working through multilateral partners. As the noble Lord will be aware from his own work, there are…10 Jun 2021HANSARDUN Peacebuilding Fund: Financial SupportMy Lords, I accept that, because of the reductions we have had to make, particularly to ODA, there are projects we have previously supported that may or will not receive funding.…10 Jun 2021HANSARDUN Peacebuilding Fund: Financial SupportThe noble Lord will know that I respect his deep insights into the workings of the UN. However, as I indicated, my experience, through my direct dealings, is that, while these are…10 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development AssistanceMy Lords, the Government are committed to returning to spending 0.7% of GNI on official development assistance when the fiscal situation allows. The 2015 Act envisages situations…10 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development AssistanceMy Lords, when I saw the noble and learned Lord’s name on the speakers’ list, the Henry VIII element came to mind from previous occasions taking legislation through this House. He…10 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development AssistanceMy Lords, the noble Lord should recognise—I am sure he does—that, as I have said repeatedly, we have been faced with the worst economic contraction for almost 300 years and a…10 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development AssistanceMy Lords, equally, on the various questions that the noble Lord has asked me, I maintain that the Government remain steadfast. They recognise their obligations under law and their…10 Jun 2021HANSARDUN Peacebuilding Fund: Financial SupportMy Lords, the noble Lord refers to yet another tragic event in Afghanistan. As the Minister responsible for our relations in Afghanistan, and I am sure I speak for all noble…10 Jun 2021HANSARDUN Peacebuilding Fund: Financial SupportMy Lords, the United Kingdom has been one of the first and biggest supporters of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, the PBF, and its work, being among the top five donors. We…10 Jun 2021HANSARDUN Peacebuilding Fund: Financial SupportMy Lords, on the peacebuilding fund, we have retained our contribution at the same level as in the previous financial year. The noble Lord is well aware of the challenges we have…10 Jun 2021HANSARDUN Peacebuilding Fund: Financial SupportMy Lords, on my noble friend’s second question, we are seeking to do that at the earliest opportunity, but I can reassure her that the equalities assessment across all areas was…10 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development AssistanceMy Lords, first, I recognise the important role that my noble friend has played and continues to play on the development scene, in particular in a specific number of programmes…10 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development AssistanceMy Lords, we fully understand and recognise the implications of the challenging decisions we have made, to which I have already alluded not just today but previously. However, I…10 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development AssistanceMy Lords, the noble Baroness is right to ask a practical question. I assure her that the approach that we have been taking— I can share this with her directly—looks at the core of…10 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development AssistanceMy noble friend presents an interesting proposition. What I will say in response is that, as part of the withdrawal agreement, which was ratified back in January 2020, a financial…10 Jun 2021HANSARDOfficial Development AssistanceMy Lords, as the noble Lord is fully aware, I respect greatly his commitment and passion and, of course, his principles for the issues around our support of the most vulnerable…10 Jun 2021