Speeches by Mundell.

“I agree with the principles that the hon. Gentleman has set out; I will come on to that topic now. We need to see UK leadership in co-ordinating a response to such issues. Because of political decisions taken in the United States, certain groups will be deprived of help and support. We need to have a role in ensuring t…”

“Are you aware of any specific UK action or things that the UK Government might have done simply to counter the cut in funds? Are there other things they have sought to do to try to make the situation better?”

“I absolutely agree with the hon. Gentleman, and I commend him for his work on the International Development Committee. I will come on to the Committee’s report on the future of development, which highlighted that very issue. The Committee sought to help this Government take forward their stated objectives. I hope the i…”

“Could those sites be reopened if funding materialised from any of the donors?”

“I absolutely do. I will come on to the most effective way in which limited resources can be used, and that is clearly one of them. We need to have honesty in this debate and acknowledge that reductions and changes in funding have consequences. We must have that honest dialogue and move away from the sort of speak that …”

“Could the Minister give some examples of how we will maximise our impact in those multilateral organisations, given that the balance of funding has moved towards them?”

“I thank the Minister for his response, which is a picture from the current Government. This is a moment for reset, which I hope the incoming Prime Minister will take on board along with many of the things said in this debate, as well as the International Development Committee’s recent report on the future of internatio…”

“Are you aware of any specific UK action or things that the UK Government might have done simply to counter the cut in funds? Are there other things they have sought to do to try to make the situation better?”

“I commend the hon. Lady for raising the issue: the Carlisle-Settle railway line is so important, and Carlisle is a great railway town with such a strong tradition. Does she agree that the points that she makes about the campaign for the Carlisle-Settle line are also applicable to the Borders railway extension from Carl…”

“Is that making a difference?”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered UK aid policy in the context of global funding trends. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. I refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I also thank the Backbench Business Committee for granting this vital and timely debate.…”

“Taj, could you describe how changes in availability of funding have impacted the humanitarian community’s ability to respond to the crisis you described?”

“I absolutely agree with the hon. Gentleman. I can think of no better example than the Child Nutrition Fund to achieve what he has set out and our wider development objectives. Malnutrition is entirely preventable and treatable, yet it remains the underlying cause of nearly half of all deaths among children under five. …”

“Ms Nader, can you describe what challenges and opportunities the Afghan Red Crescent Society and other local organisations face in responding to the situation that Taj has described? Homa Nader Yes, absolutely. Thank you so much. Food insecurity is a situation that cannot be addressed through international pipelines al…”

“Taj, can I start with you and ask you to describe the food security situation in Afghanistan?”

“Is there no local Taliban resistance to that in terms of support being given to people who are in that vulnerable situation? Homa Nader In Afghanistan, there has always been an issue of access. We have seen this with the Afghan Red Crescent Society, with this regime and previously in the last five decades, when there h…”

“Taj, can I start with you and ask you to describe the food security situation in Afghanistan?”

“Miya, did you wish to say something? I thought maybe you did, or did I misinterpret?”

“I agree with the hon. Gentleman, and I commend him and others for bringing the debt issue back to the debate. Obviously, it was a focal point of debate a number of years ago. It appears to have slid down the agenda, but it remains a vital issue, as he has highlighted. Another vital issue in reference to the Child Nutri…”

“Is there no local Taliban resistance to that in terms of support being given to people who are in that vulnerable situation? Homa Nader In Afghanistan, there has always been an issue of access. We have seen this with the Afghan Red Crescent Society, with this regime and previously in the last five decades, when there h…”