Lord Sheikh debates involving the Department for International Development during the 2019-2024 Parliament

Covid-19: Overseas Development Assistance

Lord Sheikh Excerpts
Wednesday 22nd April 2020

(4 years, 8 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Sugg Portrait Baroness Sugg
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My Lords, we are a key donor to the UNFPA. We recently announced a £200 million humanitarian package that included an additional £10 million support to the UNFPA, and we will continue to support it in the vital work it does.

Lord Sheikh Portrait Lord Sheikh (Con)
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My Lords, we all appreciate that Covid-19 is a hidden enemy that attacks anyone, anywhere in the world. Some countries overseas are in dire straits. It is important that we continue to provide help to foreign countries. Is it possible in the present climate to maintain the spend of 0.7% of our gross national income on foreign aid?

Baroness Sugg Portrait Baroness Sugg
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I can absolutely confirm our commitment to 0.7%. we need to respond both multi-laterally, though the global system, and bilaterally, in country. We are working quickly to pivot our programming to support the Covid response, reinforcing health, humanitarian and social protections or economic support programmes in country.