Oral Answers to Questions

Anas Sarwar Excerpts

Wednesday 5th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

2. What progress her Department has made on its work with the Ministry of Defence to tackle the Ebola crisis in west Africa.

[Anas Sarwar (Glasgow Central) (Lab)]

3. Whether pledges made by the international community at the “Defeating Ebola” conference in London on 2 October 2014 are being fulfilled.

[Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)]

7. What steps she is taking to assist west African states in tackling the Ebola virus.

--- Later in debate ---

[Justine Greening]

I can. We can be very proud of the role the UK is playing: both the public’s response to the recent Disasters Emergency Committee appeal, which shows the British people’s generosity, and the work the Ministry of Defence is doing. I had the chance to see the Kerry Town facility as it was nearing completion a couple of weeks ago. It is opening today to treat patients and will save lives and stop the spread of the infection.

[Anas Sarwar]

The Secretary of State will know that the international community has a very proud record of making pledges when international crises happen, but a very poor record of delivering on the pledges. Given that every day delayed means more lives lost to the Ebola crisis, what pressure is she applying to the international community and all agencies to ensure that they deliver on their promises?

[Justine Greening]

The hon. Gentleman is right to raise these issues. The UN General Assembly and World Bank meetings were good opportunities for me to raise them, as was the recent EU Council, at which the Prime Minister successfully pushed to get more than £1 billion of support. We are now seeing many of the pledges made at the London conference come through. The most recent example is that the Norwegians will now be providing health care workers to help us operate some of those core facilities.