Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Richard Graham Excerpts
Wednesday 9th January 2019

(5 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Penny Mordaunt Portrait Penny Mordaunt
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I have good news for the hon. Gentleman because, even with our immense skills, it is impossible to spend any of the 0.7% on anything that is not official development assistance-eligible. I encourage all Opposition Members, as they hopefully join us to deliver the global goals, to start working for a change with the private sector and the armed forces, without which we will not be able to deliver the humanitarian relief that we wish to deliver or achieve those goals.

Richard Graham Portrait Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)
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The US decision to stop funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency support to Palestine risks vital education and healthcare services there. I welcome DFID’s decision to increase funding in the short term, but is that sustainable in the longer term?

Alistair Burt Portrait Alistair Burt
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We and other donors have moved very rapidly this year to seek to cover a shortfall in UNRWA funding. Work is going on to ensure that, in the long term, UNRWA is sustainable. Ultimately, though, the issue is not UNRWA, but the unresolved situation of refugees.