Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tom Clarke and Alan Duncan

Wednesday 9th April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Duncan]

There is no straightforward correlation between the practicality of building a prison abroad and the number of UK-based prisoners from that country. We do not make our aid conditional on securing a prisoner transfer agreement with each such country. To do so would seriously undermine our poverty and stability programmes, and in any case they are deeply political and very complicated to negotiate. However, more than 19,000 foreign national offenders have been returned since 2010.

[Mr Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tom Clarke and Alan Duncan

Wednesday 17th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Duncan]

My hon. Friend is right. Navy ships such as those from his constituency have been crucially important in the past—for example, three years ago in Haiti. He is also right about the importance of a country’s capacity. We help in that regard through, for instance, pre-earthquake planning in Nepal and flood preparedness in Bangladesh.

[Mr Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

As the Minister knows, DFID has a deservedly high reputation for helping in disasters, but is there not a case for making some programmes last longer than they have been in the past? We want to move not just from disaster to aid, but from disaster to development.

[Mr Duncan]

That is absolutely true. We need long-term preparation in advance, and a longer-term response following any disaster. Those were the conclusions of a review conducted at the beginning of the current Parliament, whose recommendations we are implementing as best we can.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tom Clarke and Alan Duncan

Wednesday 8th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Duncan]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the Prime Minister secured agreement in Deauville that the G8 should begin to lead rather than follow on aid transparency. DFID also leads the international aid transparency initiative, an alliance of 19 major donors. Under our leadership, a new aid transparency standard was agreed in February and is already being implemented by DFID, the World Bank and the Hewlett Foundation, with many more set to follow later this year.

[Mr Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

In view of the lobbying of the House tomorrow by international development enthusiasts, will the Minister encourage as many people as possible to turn up, including hon. Members, to make our contribution to international development awareness?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tom Clarke and Alan Duncan

Wednesday 16th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Duncan]

We do not tend to get involved in large infrastructure projects, but health in Yemen is at the top of our agenda. I well appreciate the right hon. Gentleman’s close personal association with Aden, and I undertake to give the matter a special personal look.

[Mr Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

Although I acknowledge the link between poverty and security, not least in Yemen, may I invite the Minister of State to confirm that DFID sees addressing poverty among the poorest people in the poorest countries as its supreme challenge and as being at its heart?