Oral Answers to Questions

John Glen Excerpts

Wednesday 30th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[John Glen (Salisbury) (Con)]

5. What recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Mali.

[Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon) (Con)]

9. What assistance her Department is offering to the Government of Mali.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Lynne Featherstone)]

There is a serious humanitarian situation in Mali, with over 360,000 displaced people since March 2012. We do not give bilateral development aid directly to the Government of Mali, but we provide significant assistance to the region through the World Bank, EU and other multilaterals.

[John Glen]

I thank the Minister for that response. My constituents usually recognise the great contribution that our aid budget and programme makes, but they also have concerns about the effectiveness of that spending. Will the Minister confirm that in crisis situations, such as that in Mali, money is being spent effectively and will deliver massively good outcomes that I can be proud of?

[Lynne Featherstone]

My hon. Friend raises an important point. British people who support our aid and development programme need to know that money is being spent effectively and I can give him the assurance he seeks. Even in the crisis situation in Mali, agencies in receipt of our humanitarian support are tried and trusted, neutral and impartial humanitarian organisations with a history of effective operations in the most challenging of environments.