Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Gary Streeter Excerpts
Wednesday 4th July 2018

(6 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Penny Mordaunt Portrait Penny Mordaunt
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The hon. Lady touches on a subject close to my heart. When I was an aid worker in the former eastern bloc, I worked in the hospitals and orphanages there. Many of the children were not orphans as we would understand the term; they had families. We believe that the best way to care for and develop children, whatever their circumstances and whether they have a disability or not, is in a family or community setting. The disability summit that is coming up will afford us the opportunity to focus on the needs of the specific group that the hon. Lady refers to.

Gary Streeter Portrait Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon) (Con)
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I am sure the Secretary of State shares my horror at recent reports about the sex trafficking and exploitation of children in unmonitored orphanages. Is this not something that the international community should look to stamp out, and will she do her utmost to move it up the global political agenda for action?

Penny Mordaunt Portrait Penny Mordaunt
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We will certainly do that. DFID does not, as a policy, fund these types of institutions. We have traction with other donors around the world, and we will certainly try to move them on to share our policy.