Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Wednesday 16th December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab)]

2. What information her Department holds on the level of youth unemployment in Gaza; and if she will make a statement.

[The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Mr Desmond Swayne)]

Gaza has the highest unemployment in the world. The World Bank estimates that youth unemployment had reached 60% by the end of 2014. Extensive restrictions inhibit employment. The UK continues to promote economic development and private sector-led growth.

[Simon Danczuk]

Gaza still faces restrictions on access to 35% of its agricultural land and 85% of its fishable waters, and Gazans are rarely allowed to travel outside their territory. Until such restrictions are removed, DFID will continue to work with one hand tied behind its back. Does the Minister not agree that the real problem is the blockade of Gaza?

[Mr Swayne]

As I said, the restrictions inhibit employment, but we will not give up. We have a programme for economic development, and it is making progress—slow and frustrating progress, but progress none the less.

[Mr David Winnick (Walsall North) (Lab)]

May I make it absolutely clear that supporting the Palestinian people has nothing whatever to do with anti-Semitism? I wanted to clarify that at the outset.

Does the Minister not agree that the appalling situation in Gaza—and he has given us the figures—shows the need for the developed democracies to do far more? What hope can there be for the Palestinian people when they are faced with so little hope of obtaining jobs and having a decent life? Should we not be far more concerned with the Palestinian tragedy than we are?

[Mr Swayne]

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. We do everything that we can diplomatically to raise the sights of the world community, and we will continue to do so.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

Does my hon. Friend not agree that the ill-considered, short-sighted campaign for boycotts and disinvestment is actually leading to more unemployment among the Palestinian people?

[Mr Swayne]

The problem faced by Gaza is restrictions, and the extension of restriction by any means is a block to peace.

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

3. What steps she is taking to encourage the availability of low-cost credit for start-up businesses in developing countries.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

5. What assessment she has made of the quality and availability of water and sanitation facilities in Gaza.

[The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Mr Desmond Swayne)]

It is completely inadequate. Demand exceeds supply by a factor of four, and 96% of the extracted water fails World Health Organisation safety standards.

[Alex Cunningham]

It is a terrible situation. Twenty-six per cent. of all diseases in Gaza, ranging from respiratory and gastric to skin and eye diseases, are directly associated with the poor water supply. Clean water is limited to 70 litres per person a day and that figure will fall drastically over the coming years. According to the UN, the underground coastal aquifer will become unusable by 2016. What can be done about that, or is it just a case of lifting the Israeli blockade and getting on with life?

[Mr Swayne]

We are currently spending some €600,000 on a project to assist with desalination. Funds are available through our climate change fund for a long-term solution to this problem, but the level of investment and the marshalling of the factors of production will require a long-term peace process to be viable.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

The hon. Member for Stockton North (Alex Cunningham) speaks about the blockade, but surely if they did not embrace Hamas and continually fire rockets into Israel, there would not need to be a blockade in the first place.

[Mr Swayne]

We work continually with both sides to ease the economic conditions and to bring about a settlement.

[Mr Speaker]

Natalie McGarry? Not here.

[Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)]

7. What steps her Department is taking to tackle the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

[The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Mr Desmond Swayne)]

This is one of the world’s worst human crises: 80% of Yemen’s 21 million people are in need of assistance. The UK is playing its part. We have committed £75 million and are the fourth largest donor.

[Stephen Phillips]

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer. Will he update the House on what role the UK Government are playing to help bring about a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Yemen?

[Mr Swayne]

Peace talks began today, and yesterday a ceasefire commenced. I would urge all parties to observe the ceasefire. Her Majesty’s ambassador and DFID are in the margins of the peace conference affording what assistance they can.

[Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab)]

I welcome all the efforts that have been made by the Government, including the ceasefire, but the real problem is getting aid into Yemen. What can we do to raise the blockade?

[Mr Swayne]

We have invested £1.7 million in the UN vessel investigation mechanism. I hope that that will have a quantum effect on the number of vessels that are able to dock in the ports—60 last month, 55 the month before. It is getting better, but we are far, far short of what is necessary.

[Mr David Jones (Clwyd West) (Con)]

My right hon. Friend will no doubt be aware of the recent report by Save the Children that highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict on medical facilities in Yemen, with some 69 hospitals destroyed or damaged by the end of October. While one wishes the peace talks well, what can the Government do in the interim to ensure the combatants are dissuaded from targeting medical facilities?

[Mr Swayne]

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. That report is being scrutinised and investigated. We call on all combatants to observe international law, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made this point very forcefully on his recent visit.

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

Following that reply, does the Minister agree that there is an overwhelming case for the United Nations Human Rights Council, which in the last year has referenced international humanitarian law 17 times, to call for an investigation into breaches of international humanitarian law in Yemen?

[Mr Swayne]

We supported the UN Human Rights Council resolution.

[Mike Kane (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab)]

The conflict in Yemen has seen 6,000 dead and 30,000 injured. The World Health Organisation says health services are on the brink of collapse. As it was world universal health coverage day yesterday, will the Minister today commit to help rebuild Yemen’s crippled system?

[Mr Swayne]

We have already committed £75 million to this, the worst crisis in the world, and I do give that commitment. We are already planning for the reconstruction of Yemen.

[Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (Ochil and South Perthshire) (SNP)]

What discussions has the Minister had with the Foreign Office about concerning reports from Amnesty International and others that British-made weapons sold to Saudi Arabia are being used in the conflict, in breach of human rights laws?

[Mr Swayne]

The UK has the toughest standards for the export of weapons. The hon. Lady should be aware that the coalition is acting in support of the legitimate Government of Yemen after an illegal coup by an armed—[Interruption]—force.