Small Boat Crossings
Debate between Monica Harding and Angela Eagle(1 month, 3 weeks ago)
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Dame Angela Eagle
I absolutely agree with the points my hon. Friend made.
Monica Harding (Esher and Walton) (LD)
There are 120 conflicts globally, which, along with other factors such as poverty, food insecurity and the effects of climate change, cause populations to move. Does the Minister agree that, as my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Lisa Smart) pointed out, it is essential that we look at the root causes of immigration? Does she therefore support an increase in the development and aid budget, rather than the cut in official development assistance in last week’s Budget?
Dame Angela Eagle
In the end, any work that we can do upstream, whether in respect of development or aid, will deal with some of the causes, some of which the hon. Lady rightly points out. We have to stay within the bounds set by the Budget, but I assure her that I regard prevention as much better than cure.