Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Justine Greening and Valerie Vaz

Wednesday 3rd June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Justine Greening]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and over the past couple of years DFID has dramatically increased the amount of our work that is going on, including on economic development and creating jobs and livelihoods. A World Bank report in 2013 estimated that 600 million jobs will be required over the next 15 years for young people entering the labour market, many of whom are in Africa. It makes sense, and it is crucial, that we provide opportunity for them to fulfil their potential there.

[Valerie Vaz]

What implications are there for the UK as a result of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations conference on 29 May in Bangkok?

[Justine Greening]

The hon. Lady rightly points out that while we in Europe grapple with the challenges we face on migration, comparable challenges are being faced by other countries. It is absolutely right that Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are now working far more carefully together, and the UK will be playing its role to support them in doing that.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Justine Greening and Valerie Vaz

Wednesday 18th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

Could the Secretary of State go further and make it a condition of aid that those countries eliminate these appalling practices?

[Justine Greening]

We have been careful to work with the momentum in many countries in Africa. One of our biggest challenges is that tackling female genital mutilation can be seen as some kind of western agenda. It is right that we should press those countries and work with them, but we should also be prepared to work with community groups at a grass-roots level if we cannot get the political will behind us. But the hon. Lady is absolutely right to say that, in the end, political will is needed if we are going to make significant progress.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Justine Greening and Valerie Vaz

Wednesday 23rd October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

4. What contribution her Department is making to the implementation of the Government’s preventing sexual violence initiative.

[The Secretary of State for International Development (Justine Greening)]

The UK will co-host a call-to-action event in November with Sweden, which will focus on protecting women and girls from all forms of violence in emergencies. That work builds directly on the G8 Foreign Ministers’ declaration on preventing sexual violence in conflict, which was led so ably by the Foreign Secretary.

[Valerie Vaz]

I am grateful for that response. In Burma, reports of rape and sexual violence against women by the army have increased. Given the level of aid that we send to Burma, will the Secretary of State encourage the Burmese Government to sign our declaration and ask her colleagues to raise the matter in Europe and at the United Nations?

[Justine Greening]

The hon. Lady makes a powerful point about what is happening in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi is in the country and I will be meeting her today. I will be sure to raise those issues with her. I am sure that she takes them as seriously as this House.