Oral Answers to Questions

Luke Hall Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his election to the Select Committee and wish him well in that role. He is absolutely right that unless we enable women to reach their full potential, nations never will.

[Luke Hall (Thornbury and Yate) (Con)]

2. What steps she is taking to improve safeguarding in the international development sector.

[The Secretary of State for International Development (Penny Mordaunt)]

We have introduced new safeguarding standards for all DFID programmes. I have requested and received assurances from our partners on their safeguarding policies and procedures. Internationally, we are leading the charge to raise standards.

[Luke Hall]

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. Will she update the House on her Department’s plans for the international safeguarding conference that is being held later this year?

[Penny Mordaunt]

The conference will be held on 18 October in London and will involve survivors of abuse, aid beneficiaries, multilateral organisations and others. Much work is being done globally to develop vetting procedures and new human resources practices and to harmonise standards and policies across the board. At the conference, we will secure sector-wide action to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation.