Overseas Aid: Famine Relief

Earl of Sandwich Excerpts
Wednesday 6th July 2011

(13 years, 4 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Verma Portrait Baroness Verma
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My noble friend is right: we need to have better co-ordination. We are working closely with the noble Baroness, Lady Amos. Ultimately, this is about us showing our leadership and pressing other donor countries and organisations to join in the response to this urgent crisis.

Earl of Sandwich Portrait The Earl of Sandwich
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Will the Minister confirm that, while the aid budget is ring-fenced, there are going to be cuts in the administration of our aid? How will these impact on the emergency services? Will they be protected?

Baroness Verma Portrait Baroness Verma
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I assure the noble Earl that we are looking at cutbacks only in back-office work. Our aid effectiveness will not be affected; in fact, we will be able to deliver better because it will be more focused on results. How we deliver our aid will be at the heart of what we are doing.