Speeches by Mundell.

“I have one further question. We are told that within the areas of conflict, as part of the consequence of the conflict, even if local food is available people are not able to access it because food coming in from Rwanda is given preference over local foodstuffs. Is that something that is contributing to the hunger situ…”

“What is required to create a lasting peace?”

“Has the Foreign Secretary made any assessment of what impact the conflict is having on the horrendous humanitarian situation in Yemen? Given Iran’s continued support for the Houthis, does she believe that in discussions to end the conflict there will be some opportunity to make a positive impact on that conflict?”

“Fred, what is your assessment of the latest progress in US peace talks?”

“Are you aware, Fred, of specific programmes that were UK funded but were cut?”

“Fred, what is your assessment of the latest progress in US peace talks?”

“Fred, were you aware that the UK Development Minister recently announced a package of support for the DRC, including significant initiatives to mobilise investment? Will the approach by the UK Government tackle the challenges faced by the DRC?”

“Obviously I do not agree with the Secretary of State’s analysis, but I think we can agree that child poverty and the other challenges that face real people in Scotland should be the focus of this Scottish Parliament election campaign, and not independence, for which, incredibly, the Reform UK candidate in Dumfriesshire…”

“Do you not accept that that profile will ultimately mean—particularly because of the inability to draw down match funding, which is a statutory position in the US—that that funding will be less effective and less able to fill gaps than it otherwise would have been?”

“This Committee, and indeed many others, welcomed the Government’s commitment to the Global Fund in the circumstances that we found ourselves. Last week, however, it emerged that two thirds of that funding is scheduled to be paid in the final year of the spending plan. I would be interested to know what the rationale fo…”

“Thank you. Chair. Can I come to you, Baroness Chapman? Success in the UK’s priority areas such as global health relies on progress in other defunded areas. What conversations have you had with multilateral and bilateral donor partners around the gaps these reductions will leave in critical programme funding?”

“I have one of many questions I could ask you about nutrition. It is about the Child Nutrition Fund. It was good last night to hear Minister Elmore being very effusive about it but it would be good if you were able to commit to continuing support for the fund and potentially see how much that would be.”

“Unitaid?”

“Minister, it had been indicated previously that there might be no funding at all for UNAIDS, but I noted subsequently that there was some funding, which is in the circumstances welcome, particularly when we are at what is a potentially exciting time when lenacapavir could be rolled out more extensively. You had also in…”

“In parallel with that, will the FCDO be continuing its funding of LGBT issues internationally?”

“Do you have an overview that would allow you to step in or prioritise in countries where, for example, services were not provided as a result of the approach that the US was taking?”

“Foreign Secretary, I would like to ask you about another challenge in relation to delivering our ODA funding programmes. In January, the US Administration adopted something they called Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance, which is sometimes referred to as an extension of the global gag rule, which is esse…”

“That would have to be changed in order for there to be more flexibility from the US.”

“I think it is helpful to have it on the record because that just emerged. Putting the emphasis on totality, it only just emerged how it was going to be paid and I think the issue in America is not just the Administration; it is in statute.”

“It is positive about the overall sum, but two thirds does seem to be a very significant part to be in the final year of funding. Is that to meet your budgetary requirements? It cannot really be to make the fund as effective as possible.”