Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development: Merger Debate

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Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development: Merger

Earl of Sandwich Excerpts
Monday 27th July 2020

(3 years, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Portrait Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
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My Lords, the new department carries the word “development” for an important reason, because development will continue to be a focus. The Government will remain accountable and transparent in our dealings on ODA, through parliamentary scrutiny and by answering Parliamentary Questions, as I am today. As I have already said to the right reverend Prelate, we will continue to return to the subject when the new department comes online in September.

Earl of Sandwich Portrait The Earl of Sandwich (CB) [V]
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My Lords, a £2.9 billion aid cut and an inevitably costly merger are bound to hurt the poorest. Can the Minister at least reassure us that—[Inaudible.]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Portrait Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
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I did not catch the full question; I will write to the noble Earl on the specifics.