Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jim Cunningham and Harriett Baldwin

Wednesday 9th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin]

I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for the work he is doing on this important issue. Last year the Department took a leadership role on addressing such issues not only within the Department but within the providers we work with around the world.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

11. What progress has the Department made in engaging with children and young people to achieve sustainable development goal 16.2 to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children?

[Harriett Baldwin]

Through our own work, through the International Citizen Service and through our work with many of our partner organisations, including UNICEF, we are working extensively on this issue. I am glad to be able to tell the hon. Gentleman that the UK is the largest donor to the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jim Cunningham and Harriett Baldwin

Wednesday 21st November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

T2. Climatic change is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity. What are the Government doing to protect the world’s poorest? Will they make it a top priority?

[The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Harriett Baldwin)]

The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to hear that £5.8 billion from our aid budget is to be spent in this area over the years to come and that so far it has helped 47 million people adapt to climate change around the world.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jim Cunningham and Harriett Baldwin

Wednesday 23rd May 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Harriett Baldwin)]

The UK is one of the leading humanitarian donors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We have acted quickly to support the country and the World Health Organisation in tackling the Ebola outbreak; the Secretary of State today announced an extra £5 million to support the WHO response plan.

[Mr Cunningham]

What are the Government doing to prevent the outbreak from spreading to places such as Kinshasa?

[Harriett Baldwin]

The plan announced by the World Health Organisation involves making sure that we use a new, experimental vaccine that the UK has helped to develop. It is being applied to anyone who has come into contact with Ebola. Yesterday, vaccinations began to be offered to health workers and to anyone who has had contact with a contact.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jim Cunningham and Harriett Baldwin

Monday 13th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

T7. Following on from the answer that the Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough (Gill Furniss), can she name the projects in which British steel is actually being used to safeguard British steelworkers jobs?

[Harriett Baldwin]

We are committed to building Type 26 frigates, and that forms part of the pipeline of defence procurement where we are going to need steel. Our main supplier is running a competition in which I believe five UK firms are participating.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jim Cunningham and Harriett Baldwin

Monday 7th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin]

I would have thought the hon. Gentleman might have started by welcoming Friday’s announcement about the shipbuilding jobs on the Clyde, but he is absolutely right that it is a wonderful national moment as we complete these two fantastic carriers at Rosyth. I am sure he and I are both looking forward to seeing the Queen Elizabeth sail down the Forth some time next year. Given the ambitious shipbuilding strategy that we have and the national shipbuilding strategy that will be announced nearer to the autumn statement, I am sure that there will be great news for shipbuilding across Scotland and the whole of the UK.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

2. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the RAF's campaign in Iraq and Syria.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jim Cunningham and Harriett Baldwin

Tuesday 19th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin]

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. In fact, it has been stated that not only will 2.5 million people benefit directly from the change in the national living wage in April, but up to 6 million whose salaries are very close to that hourly rate will benefit as well.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

When will the Chancellor, and in particular the Minister, give public sector workers a decent pay rise that reflects some of the jobs that they do for us?

[Harriett Baldwin]

We believe that every worker in the country will benefit from the change in the national living wage, which is an important part of the long-term economic plan, but, as the hon. Gentleman will know, this year public sector workers received pay rises that were above inflation.

National Insurance Contributions (Rate Ceilings) Bill

Debate between Jim Cunningham and Harriett Baldwin

Tuesday 15th September 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

Has the Minister done an impact assessment on public services—for example, the impact that the Bill will have on the national health service and benefits?

[Harriett Baldwin]

I am delighted to hear the first bid from the Opposition not to freeze national insurance for employers and employees. As the hon. Gentleman will know, national insurance contributes a substantial sum to the Exchequer and we have committed as a Government to continue to increase the amount of money that goes into the NHS.

[Mr Cunningham]

The Minister should not twist my words. I asked her about the impact of the Bill.

[Harriett Baldwin]

Of course, the impact of freezing national insurance for employers and employees is that throughout the life of this Parliament they can have the confidence that their national insurance rates will not change—a confidence they would not have if the hon. Gentleman had any say in it.