Contributions
216 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsOne of the great strengths of the SDGs was that they were much more comprehensive than the millennium development goals that they replaced. In fact, I helped to chair the panel…16 Jan 2024HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsI will certainly take away what the noble Lord said and look at it carefully. In history, it is true that a green revolution of productivity in agriculture has almost always been…16 Jan 2024HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsThe noble Lord is quite right that if you look at the SDGs and poverty more generally, half of the poorest people in the world are now in fragile states. If we cannot help to fix…16 Jan 2024HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsThat is not exactly what I said. I am very proud that we reached 0.7%. I had some disagreements with this Government before I joined but politics is a team enterprise; when you…16 Jan 2024HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsI respect the noble Lord and what he says. We have been leaders on this through the Paris Club and other mechanisms; in many cases it has been the right thing to do to write down…16 Jan 2024HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsI certainly half agree with the noble Lord: the investment that we can put into the countries from which the migrants are coming is essential. We have to ensure that countries in…16 Jan 2024HANSARDRules-based International OrderI think I am right in saying that a meeting has already been arranged and is in process. I do not know whether the noble Lord will be joining us, but it would be a pleasure to get…16 Jan 2024HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsI very much agree with the noble Lord on the important position regarding debt and what needs to be done to help countries to relieve their debt. I do not necessarily think the…16 Jan 2024HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsMy Lords, the UK was instrumental in developing the sustainable development goals. Following the global recommitment to the SDGs at the United Nations General Assembly last…16 Jan 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaMy noble friend makes a good point, which is that Hamas could end this tomorrow by saying that it was going to lay down its weapons or leave. Everyone is aware that we want a…16 Jan 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaWhat I meant when I said that was simply that I worry about these things. It is my job to worry. The Foreign Office has a job, which is to look at the legal advice and work out…16 Jan 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaIt is very important that we hear from everybody. One of the things that I do with the responsibilities of the aid and development portfolio that is now squarely within the…16 Jan 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaI take what the noble Lord says, as a former Foreign Secretary, extremely seriously. What would make a difference is if Israel recognised its responsibilities for making sure that…16 Jan 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaFirst, I would say to the noble Lord that we have trebled the amount of aid that we are putting into Gaza. I very much take on board what he says about the pressure we need to put…16 Jan 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaMy Lords, we support a ceasefire, but this must be a sustainable ceasefire that will last and prevent another generation living under the constant threat of war. That must mean…16 Jan 2024HANSARDRules-based International OrderMy Lords, an open and stable international order is in our interest. We use it to deliver on issues of domestic and global importance, such as the Bletchley AI safety declaration.…16 Jan 2024HANSARDRohingya RefugeesI am not aware of that report; I will certainly go away and look into it. What we would say is that Bangladesh should be praised for the role that it is playing in taking quite so…16 Jan 2024HANSARDRohingya RefugeesThe issue of the responsibility to protect is one we have taken forward and discuss with allies and partners. It is developing a doctrine, as it were. When it comes to this issue,…16 Jan 2024HANSARDRohingya RefugeesThe noble Baroness is absolutely right that we take our responsibilities very seriously. We have those discussions at permanent-member level of the UN Security Council. I will…16 Jan 2024HANSARDRohingya RefugeesFundamentally, the noble Lord is completely right about the interim measures which have been set out by the International Court of Justice. It is incumbent on the Government of…16 Jan 2024