Contributions
1,361 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisI will certainly get back to the hon. Lady about a pathway to referral to the scheme from MPs’ offices. The Home Office leads on that, rather than me. I say again that this is a…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisThere is no one working harder to get on with the job and to support people around the world than this Government. I find Members accusing us of not getting on with the job from a…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisI think I have been very clear: we are working with the UN and other international partners and we want to unlock the World Bank funding that will make a considerable difference.…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisThe hon. Lady makes a very good point about speaking to many of those who have represented Afghanistan and who are now situated across the world— [ Interruption. ]12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisWe are very concerned about the rapid economic contraction and the impact that that is having on the people of Afghanistan, especially as the cost of essential products is rising…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisThe situation is enormously difficult, and being heckled by the hon. Member for York Central (Rachael Maskell) from a sedentary position is very hard. My right hon. Friend the…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisI thank the Chair of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs for his close interest in the subject and for mentioning the plight of children. We are deeply concerned by the forced…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisAs I said in my opening remarks, the situation is enormously serious. Indeed, it is now the world’s most severe food security crisis. On the issues relating to supporting Afghan…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisAbout 15,000 people were brought to the UK. Many of them are still in hotels, but many more have moved into homes. We have the second largest resettlement scheme in the world, and…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisMy colleague, the Minister for the region, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, is in regular connect with NGOs. We have already disbursed over £145 million, which is going into life-saving…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisThere are multiple causes of the crisis; my hon. Friend is absolutely right on that. I know that she has travelled to the country in happier times. We are working really closely…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisThe Afghan citizens resettlement scheme was announced by the Minister responsible, my hon. Friend the Member for Louth and Horncastle (Victoria Atkins), just last week. She…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisI completely agree with the hon. Member’s sentiment. None of us wanted to be in this situation; it is absolutely dire. The impact on the people of Afghanistan and especially those…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisI thank the hon. Member for again raising the issue of the generosity of the British people. They have been enormously generous, especially in response to the appeal just before…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisThis is the most serious food crisis in the world. This is not the time for party politics. The UK has been leading the international efforts on this issue. The UN has just…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisDuring Operation Pitting, we worked at great speed. Our armed forces on the ground worked at great speed and in great danger to evacuate around 15,000 people to the UK. That was…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisAs ever, my hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the issue of girls’ education. We are absolutely committed to girls’ education across the world and we absolutely believe that…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisThe hon. Lady is right to raise what the WHO has been saying. This is the most severe food crisis in the world. That is why the UN has launched its appeal, and it is right that…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisThis is heart-wrenching. We all have cases involving families who have been separated and of constituents who have come here from Afghanistan and are very concerned about the…12 Jan 2022HANSARD Afghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisThere were a number of different questions. Just to be clear, £135 million of our aid has gone, to the end of December. No funds are going directly to the Taliban; they are going…12 Jan 2022