Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Hurd and Stephen Phillips

Wednesday 29th June 2016 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)]

2. What assessment she has made of the safety of people from Burundi in refugee camps in neighbouring countries.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr Nick Hurd)]

May I associate myself with the remarks of the shadow Secretary of State about the Secretary of State, and with the remarks about standing in solidarity with Istanbul?

More than a quarter of a million Burundians have fled their country since 2015. We remain very concerned about their wellbeing, which is why we are the second largest bilateral donor to the regional refugee appeal.

[Stephen Phillips]

My hon. Friend will be aware of reports over recent months of Burundian refugees being followed over the border into camps and attacked by those from whom they have tried to flee, often to punish remaining family members or silence those with stories of abuse. What are the Government doing to offer support to authorities and non-governmental organisations running refugee camps in Rwanda, Tanzania and other neighbouring countries to ensure that those fleeing Burundi are safe?

[Mr Hurd]

I thank my hon. and learned Friend for that question. We are aware of the reports. Indeed, I have spoken personally to a number of Burundian refugees in camps, and we have made it very clear to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that we expect it to protect all refugees, and in Rwanda we have funded it to provide additional protection in the Mahama region refugee camp.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Hurd and Stephen Phillips

Wednesday 19th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hurd]

I think the hon. Lady should speak to her Front-Bench team, who recently said they were not against the NCS. I think they saw the numbers on the very positive impact it has on young people, and I hope she will support that too. Youth services around the country do not have to be cut. There are lots of other options for local authorities—to mutualise, to look at other delivery models—and we stand ready to support them in that.

[Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)]

5. What progress he has made on abolishing quangos.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Nick Hurd)]

To date, the number of public bodies has been reduced by more than 240, through abolitions and mergers, and by the end of the spending review period in March 2015, the Government will have reduced their total number by a third.

[Stephen Phillips]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on what he has managed to achieve so far, but how will he ensure that we never see the explosion in the number of these unaccountable bodies that we saw under the last Government?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Hurd and Stephen Phillips

Wednesday 19th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)]

T4. My hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (John Glen) has already raised the plight of the Plymouth Brethren, who are subject to a disgraceful attack by the Charity Commission on their charitable status. During the passage of the Charities Act 2011 through the House, the current Leader of the Opposition gave undertakings that no religious body would lose its charitable status. If the Plymouth Brethren lose the litigation, will my hon. Friend undertake to ensure that the law will be changed?

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Nick Hurd)]

I am sure we all want to see the Plymouth Brethren issue resolved as quickly and cheaply as possible by the Charity Commission and the tribunal. My hon. and learned Friend will be aware that we are reviewing all charity law in co-operation with Lord Hodgson, including whether we should revisit a statutory definition of public benefit.