Algeria

Debate between Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Lord Howell of Guildford

Thursday 27th March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

My Lords, if one looks across the wider MENA region, Algeria remains stable compared to other countries in what is a difficult and troubled region. The campaign, as the noble Lord has pointed out, has begun for presidential elections on 17 April, and the UK looks forward to working with whoever the Algerian people elect. On the specific issue of observers, I cannot give an answer now but I will certainly check that and write to him.

[Lord Howell of Guildford (Con)]

Is my noble friend aware that Algeria is interested in closer association with the Commonwealth? Will he see that his ministerial colleagues encourage that?

Overseas Development Assistance

Debate between Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Lord Howell of Guildford

Thursday 27th June 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

I think I have made my position clear. We as a Government have ensured that DfID funding at 0.7% will be protected. That is unequivocal; it was made clear by the Chancellor and the Secretary of State, and we should welcome this. As for international development, we are not only playing our part but leading the way on the world scene. We can be very proud of that.

[Lord Howell of Guildford]

Would my noble friend give a warm welcome to DfID’s proposals to reactivate and reinvigorate the Commonwealth Development Corporation? It was originally a superb instrument for promoting entrepreneurship, small business and farm development throughout the developing world, particularly the Commonwealth. It rather lost its way, but now, with DfID’s help, it is getting back on stream again; it is a very good instrument. Does the Minister recognise that we have strong support for what DfID is doing?

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

I thank my noble friend, who of course comes to this with great knowledge, for enlightening the whole House on that initiative. Of course the Government welcome this—it is important that DfID plays its part. The family of Commonwealth nations is an important part of Britain’s development programme across the world. The more we can work in collaboration with institutions such as the Commonwealth in demonstrating development and progress in the developing world, the better.

Pakistan

Debate between Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Lord Howell of Guildford

Thursday 1st December 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Howell of Guildford]

The noble Lord makes an extremely good point. Pakistan has many problems but very high on the list are the terrorist threat and its borders with Afghanistan, as we all know. As to relations with India, we notice that India and Pakistan have recently been talking. We greatly welcome and encourage their dialogue, which we hope will lead to a less tense development on that side and therefore less distraction from the main aims that the noble Lord has rightly identified.

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

My Lords, accepting that Pakistan has been in the front line in the war on terror for the past 10 years, I seek our Government’s assurance that strategically, militarily and tactically on the ground Pakistan’s role will not be diminished and that it will continue to play an integrated role in the war against terror—not watching on the sidelines but being involved and engaged fully to prevent the kind of incidents that we saw recently with attacks on Pakistani forces within Pakistani sovereign territory. I join in extending condolences to the families who suffered loss as a result of that act.

[Lord Howell of Guildford]

I am sure that my noble friend’s condolences will be appreciated. These horrific things do happen, and we await an investigation of what on earth went wrong for this to have occurred. Full integration in counterterrorism is very much our purpose. As the House knows, we have counterterrorist discussions with Pakistan, although I cannot reveal the details, and we are determined to use its skills and intelligence availability in the united war against terror.