Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Debate

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Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Lord Bates Excerpts
Thursday 3rd September 2020

(4 years, 3 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Portrait Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
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My Lords, I reassure the noble Lord, a former PUS to what was the Foreign Office, that I have already given a commitment to the 0.7% target. Yes, global Britain is about our development leadership and our diplomacy, and the FCDO brings the two together.

Lord Bates Portrait The Deputy Speaker (Lord Bates) (Con)
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I call the noble Baroness, Lady Hooper. She is not there, so I call the noble Lord, Lord Boateng.

Lord Boateng Portrait Lord Boateng (Lab)
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My Lords, poverty and hunger are fuelled by instability and conflict. Will the Minister give the House the assurance that the new department will work closely with the Ministry of Defence in addressing those issues, that there will be adequate funding—indeed, an increase in funding—for that, and that it will be subject to scrutiny by this House and the other place to ensure aid effectiveness?