Speeches by Naish.

“I want to just take a step back. We are talking about CSSF in the UK context and saying that it is a great strength. What are other countries doing in that same way? What is the benchmark here that we are comparing to or, in reality, is there not such a benchmark in other parts of the world?”

“If I could come in there, Mike, the CSSF in its format was there about nine years. Would you say that what you have described was true just towards the end or was CSSF having an immediate impact when it was first introduced?”

“Finally, 60 seconds each maybe, but lessons from CSSF morphing into ISF when it comes to future funding and obviously the spending review around conflict resolution: what are the key messages you would want to leave to us as a Committee but also if you were speaking to a Minister, very briefly?”

“I have one very short question. Have either of you or organisations you are aware of been consulted by the Government at all about the future of the ISF in the context of the general spending review?”

“Lewis, just that broader point on focus since the general election for ISF.”

“In summary, what you are saying is that the emphasis on conflict prevention, gender, and so on is being diluted, with national security and defence themes being prioritised.”

“The ISF came into being around April 2024 I think it was. We then had the general election in July. What are your perspectives—both of you—on the objectives and the priorities of the ISF since the general election in 2024? Has there been a clear shift? Are the goals clearer than they were when it was initially establis…”

“From what you have seen, is that partly to do with the rise in in-donor refugee costs here in the UK or is that a general trend prior to that becoming a bigger issue that we have dealt with?”

“Yes, it is a skillset that needs to be valued and prioritised. The flip of the cost drain that could be Ukraine will be the fact that the Government are committed to raising defence to 2.5% of GDP. What effect do you think that might have on ISF, Nic?”

“Mike, do you have any thoughts on the risk that some peacekeeping can end up being so significant that it has a wider detriment on the role of the ISF?”

“You have mentioned Ukraine a few times, Nic. We do not really know what the end of that conflict will look like and we do not know the role of ISF within that. If we assume that ISF were to play a role, how do you think any future UK peacekeeping operation would start to affect other activities beyond Ukraine? Will tha…”

“Mike, anything that you want to add on that?”

“If I could come in there, Mike, the CSSF in its format was there about nine years. Would you say that what you have described was true just towards the end or was CSSF having an immediate impact when it was first introduced?”

“One of the first pieces of correspondence that I received as a new MP on 10 July last year was from my constituent Robert Dickie, who passionately told me about his brother, who died aged 31 from AIDS and hepatitis C after being infected with contaminated blood products. I therefore welcome today’s update. The Governme…”

“I would just emphasise that if a third of your pie is a fluctuating cost, my point is that if you are just trying to hold at 0.3% by 2027, you will make decisions that might go the right way or might go the wrong way. Say, a five-year funding package for Gavi. You will make a decision with some of that that is fluctuat…”

“Either international humanitarian law is being broken or it is not, and I think what the Chair is asking is what steps you would be prepared to take. We know it is being broken in several places around the world and no steps appear to be being taken. Are sanctions, therefore, something that we, as a Government, would b…”

“I want to push back on the idea that international humanitarian law is context-specific. International humanitarian law is international humanitarian law and it is a nonsense to suggest that context is relevant as to whether IHL is or is not being broken.”

“Very quickly, you mentioned partner Governments and the importance of working effectively with them. In March the UK Government told the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly that we were seeking enhanced collaboration with the EU on international development and humanitarian issues. Given the summit next week, I wa…”

“The last one said, “It will be impossible to maintain these priorities given the depth of the cut. The effect will be even far greater than presented.” The last one did not feel she could continue in her job. I think it is a bit idealistic to be presenting some of these ideas as meaning that we can just work differentl…”

“It is like we are saying there is a new way of thinking, we can sharpen our focus, we can change how we work. Why is that suddenly just going to start happening now just because we have to do the budget? These people have always worked impressively.”