Contributions
1,571 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2022My Lords, I thank noble Lords who have contributed to this debate today. I will do my best to address the issues that were raised by noble Lords. Crypto asset exchange providers…17 Oct 2022HANSARDSanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2022My concern in answering this question is that I never know where the line is drawn. We are not supposed to talk about individual or upcoming sanctions. My understanding is that…17 Oct 2022HANSARDHorn of Africa: FamineMy Lords, the UK-supported humanitarian activities are saving lives and having immeasurable impacts. In the year 2021-22, we provided a total of £230 million in humanitarian…13 Oct 2022HANSARDHorn of Africa: FamineMy Lords, I would love to be able to answer that question, but I cannot. The Treasury set a test, with which the House is familiar, and it will be the Treasury that decides when…13 Oct 2022HANSARDHorn of Africa: FamineMy Lords, the crisis in east Africa continues to worsen. Drought is causing significant levels of food insecurity. Over 51 million people in the region are estimated to be facing…13 Oct 2022HANSARDHorn of Africa: FamineMy Lords, it is absolutely right to say that the UK reduced the proportion of its GNI spending on overseas aid from 0.7% to 0.5%, but we are committed to returning to 0.7%. Like…13 Oct 2022HANSARDHorn of Africa: FamineMy Lords, my noble friend is right. The Government’s response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the wider ODA pressures, including the ODA-eligible expenditure incurred through…13 Oct 2022HANSARDHorn of Africa: FamineMy noble friend makes a hugely important point. The challenge of delivering humanitarian assistance to countries where there are so many people in need but where the authorities…13 Oct 2022HANSARDHorn of Africa: FamineMy Lords, I have spoken regularly to representatives of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and they make a very strong argument on loss and damage. They would probably agree that it is…13 Oct 2022HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsMy Lords, I will not return to 0.7% other than to say that we are very keen to return to it as soon as we are able to.13 Oct 2022HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsThe noble Baroness makes an important point. I am afraid this is far beyond my brief, given that my focus is on international poverty alleviation, environment and climate change,…13 Oct 2022HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsMy Lords, it is widely acknowledged that COP 26, of which we were president, was a diplomatic triumph. We did not achieve everything that we wanted to achieve, but by the time we…13 Oct 2022HANSARDHorn of Africa: FamineMy Lords, the situation in Ethiopia is particularly alarming. Ethiopia was the country that, for many people, opened our eyes to some of the problems of acute famine in the world.…13 Oct 2022HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsThat is an extremely important point. It is a core part of the work we are doing, particularly in the Horn of Africa, which we discussed in the previous Question. I will not…13 Oct 2022HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsThe noble Baroness is right. Unfortunately, it is not just a handful of countries; a lot of countries could fit the description that she put forward. From the perspective of our…13 Oct 2022HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsI agree very strongly, but without exaggerating the ability the UK has to do that. What we can do is be sure that the money we provide from UK taxpayers via our overseas…13 Oct 2022HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsMy Lords, we remain committed to achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030, including the eradication of extreme poverty. For the first time in years the number of…13 Oct 2022HANSARDHorn of Africa: FamineThe noble Viscount is absolutely right. There is no way these problems can be solved through ODA or other aid alone; it is just not possible. That is why the UK has taken an…13 Oct 2022HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsI have already made comments about the issue of 0.5% and 0.7%. I will not repeat them, other than to say that, like everyone in this House and the other place, we look forward to…13 Oct 2022HANSARDUN Sustainable Development GoalsThe noble Lord is obviously right. Health remains one of the top four priorities as set out in the integrated review and the international development strategy, neither of which…13 Oct 2022