Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Richard Fuller

Wednesday 17th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Swayne]

We contributed £500,000 to the implementation of the mechanism, and the Australians have paid for the software, in order to ensure, by agreement with the Israeli Government, the Palestinian Authority and the UN, that no building materials would be misappropriated.

[Richard Fuller (Bedford) (Con)]

5. What projects her Department is supporting in Nigeria to counter the effects of Boko Haram.

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

My recollection is that we take this matter very seriously indeed with respect to—sorry, I have misappropriated the question. [Interruption.] I apologise, Mr Speaker

Boko Haram can only be defeated by action by the Nigerian Government on a security front and on a development front and by provision of leadership. We in DFID have doubled our programme of investment in the north-east of Nigeria and are working to that end.

[Richard Fuller]

I thank the Minister for that reply. The active targeting of schools by Boko Haram, and also in Peshawar this week, shows that there is no limit to the barbarism and depravity of such extremists. In tackling such extremists it is important that the security forces maintain civilised standards. Is my right hon. Friend aware of the investigations by Amnesty International and can he assure the House that no DFID projects inadvertently or indirectly harm people by lowering the standards of the security forces?

[Mr Swayne]

We take that report very seriously indeed. Human rights abuses exacerbate insurgencies. I can give my hon. Friend that assurance that we do not fund or support in any way the security forces that are responsible for those actions. Indeed, our programme of Justice for All—J4A—ensures that all Nigerians can have access to better justice and human rights.

International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill (Money)

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Richard Fuller

Monday 3rd November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Swayne]

I am glad that there is unity across the House, on that matter at least.

[Richard Fuller (Bedford) (Con)]

Will the Minister explain the process behind this particular money resolution? In an era in which the country knows that the Government have no money to throw around, what process did he go through to determine that there should be expenditure on progressing this Bill, which, if it is passed, would have serious implications for public expenditure?

[Mr Swayne]

The process is simple. We discussed it a great deal on Second Reading, but my hon. Friend is now effectively attempting to reopen that debate. The Bill was approved according to the clearly expressed will of the House, but it concerns a pledge that was in every party’s manifesto.