Speeches by Mathew.

“Sapphire, the next question is to you. How can these be designed in an empowering way?”

“I hope you can hear me okay. My section is called “From grants to expertise”, and I have three short questions. I will put them one after another. First, Chido, I should say “zvakanaka” regarding your work with mushroom farming—it sounds fantastic. What is the place for technical assistance in the UK’s development assi…”

“One way that you can do that and get greater agency—this is something that has been done quite a bit in the past—is co-funding. So you put £1 into this and we will put £2 in, or whatever it is. Do you have any reflections on those sorts of programmes?”

“And, more to the point, there is Sudan, which is the biggest forgotten-about crisis happening in the world today.”

“I used to be an aid worker once upon a time. I am sure other MPs on the panel have had similar experiences of going along to church groups and others in our communities, talking to them and hearing what they have to say. Among those communities, you find young people and old people—all kinds of people—with a wonderful …”

“Finian, what else should be considered to maximise the effectiveness of technical assistance programmes?”

“Yes.”

“Sapphire, the next question is to you. How can these be designed in an empowering way?”

“My constituency of Melksham and Devizes does not have a minor injuries unit, leaving many to travel far afield, to Bath or Swindon, to access A&E services. Will the Prime Minister meet me to discuss the need for an expanded hospital provision in my constituency?”

“Are some directors being asked to model savings and/or reductions of more than 25%?”

“This is on staffing.”

“Some quick-fire questions, starting with the Minister, and Melinda you might like to add something as well. First, have you managed to move faster than Olly Robbins to make sure you have the staff you need to deliver your vision for ODA?”

“To go back to your previous points, when you talked about the need to rethink the way in which you talk to the public, but also the way in which you look at how multilateral spending impacts real lives. I can give no better example than when I was country rep for WaterAid in Tanzania, and I have worked with WASH all ov…”

“That will be at a conference. Is there any direct communication?”

“Minister, have you seen a workforce plan or skills audit?”

“I think it is vital that it is transparent.”

“Thank you, Minister, and I go back to this whole issue of women and girls. Violence against women and girls is a terrible thing. We have been looking a lot at what is going on in Sudan and the ultimate horrors that are happening there but, in terms of development, women and girls collect 70% of the water when they do n…”

“Is there a mechanism that the FCDO has to talk to the African Union about Sudan, or indeed other things? How does that work?”

“Does my hon. Friend agree that clear rules on the speed and distance required when passing walkers, cyclists and horses on the road are needed, and that this should be included in driver theory tests and must be at the heart of driver education? Too many walkers, cyclists and horse riders have been hurt in our constitu…”

“Tog, how important is Nigeria to regional stability?”