Poverty: Developing Countries

Lord Strathclyde Excerpts

Wednesday 27th June 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Gardner of Parkes]

We have not had a question from the Conservative Benches.

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)]

My Lords, I think that it is the turn of my noble friend Lady Gardner.

[Baroness Gardner of Parkes]

Returning to my point, I was for many years the chairman of the UK branch of PLAN International, which has a programme of helping to educate children and also provides great help to widows in many countries. I am glad that the Minister mentioned that the Government are doing what they can but one very big problem arises in countries where all inheritance goes to a male relative. Women find that they suddenly have nothing because their husband’s brother or one of their husband’s brother’s sons has inherited everything. I hope that she will press the Governments of the world on this matter. I think that Uganda has changed this law and that has made a dramatic difference to women. Will she press Commonwealth countries and other countries in general to look into this further?

Health: Tropical Diseases

Lord Strathclyde Excerpts

Thursday 26th January 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord McColl of Dulwich]

My Lords—

[Lord Strathclyde]

Let us hear from the noble Baroness.

[Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead]

Does the Minister agree that the distribution of drugs and the setting up of treatment programmes present a huge challenge in many of the countries where these neglected tropical diseases are endemic, where health systems are already struggling to provide even the most basic services? Would she also agree that a further challenge comes from meeting requirements to regulate a range of what will be new medical products and to evaluate their safety, their efficacy and their quality in very particular conditions, for instance in Africa? Will the Minister assure the House that funding will be provided to support efforts to strengthen health systems and to build capacity to regulate the new drugs?

Distribution of Dormant Account Money (Apportionment) Order 2011

Lord Strathclyde Excerpts

Monday 11th July 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Higgins]

My Lords, might I raise a point that is perhaps of general interest? When a matter is debated in the Moses Room and the Minister is unable to give a full reply and promises to write and place a copy of the answer in the Library, should that not be done before the matter returns to the Floor of the House? Perhaps my noble friend the Leader of the House might consider that point, otherwise when the order comes back to the Floor, we will not know what view we ought to take on it.

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)]

My Lords, perhaps I may take the opportunity of answering. I would always regard that to be the normal course of practice, and if it did not happen, I would very much like it to be brought to my attention.

Motions agreed.

International Aid

Lord Strathclyde Excerpts

Monday 29th November 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Falkner of Margravine]

My Lords—

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)]

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Lea, can speak and then the noble Baroness.

[Lord Lea of Crondall]

My Lords, it is interesting to see the dinosaur tendency coming out on this. Does the Minister agree that multilateral aid in a typical African country is far more effective than seven or eight European countries giving different views on auditing and different views on public expenditure generally?

Zimbabwe

Lord Strathclyde Excerpts

Wednesday 10th November 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead]

My Lords—

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)]

My Lords, I think that, strictly speaking, it is the turn of the noble Baroness, Lady Kinnock.

[Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead]

My Lords, the noble Baroness will be aware that the European Union common position on Zimbabwe will be under review in February. Does she anticipate that there are likely to be calls for modification of the common position on targeted measures against Zimbabwe? If there are, can she assure us that the United Kingdom will insist that, before any such changes are made, there has to be a serious improvement in human rights, good governance and democracy in Zimbabwe?