Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Twigg Excerpts
Wednesday 3rd February 2016

(8 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Desmond Swayne Portrait Mr Swayne
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We started by doubling our aid last year, and last week the Secretary of State announced that that aid would increase by a further £10 million to £85 million. In September, she led a side event at the UN General Assembly, at which she secured from other donors a further £85 million. We are working on the UN verification and inspection mechanism to ensure that more food and shipping get into Yemen.

Stephen Twigg Portrait Stephen Twigg (Liverpool, West Derby) (Lab/Co-op)
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That additional aid is welcome, but at the same time we are supplying arms to one side in the conflict. Is it time that this country supported an international, independent inquiry into concerns about the abuses of international humanitarian law, and in the meantime suspended all arms sales to Saudi Arabia?

Desmond Swayne Portrait Mr Swayne
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We have supported the UN Human Rights Council resolution that requires the Government of Yemen to investigate those matters, with the support of the UN.