Speeches by Rushworth.

“What is the UK doing to support atrocity prevention strategies in Sudan and refugee host countries?”

“Having listened to evidence on Gaza as a member of the International Development Committee, it is clear to me that there have been egregious breaches of international law. While I do not doubt the integrity and sincerity of my hon. Friend, it is clear that the actions taken so far by the Government have either not shif…”

“This is mainly addressed to you, Sir Philip, based on your tenure as the first permanent under-secretary. What do you consider to be the primary benefits and costs of the merger with DFID and the Foreign Office?”

“I appreciate your comment on the cuts. What sort of damage do you think that that did to the UK’s global brand, not only the cuts but also the loss of DFID, which I think it is fair to say was the envy of the world? I have previously worked in international development. I have visited foreign embassies all over the wor…”

“There was a follow-up question. It is probably one for a longer answer another day, but the previous Government established that there should be an atrocity prevention strategy. What are the Government doing to make sure that there is an atrocity prevention strategy and that that is being integrated into foreign and se…”

“Before I ask a question on financing, could I just ask one more question on this? I am pleased with the work the Government are doing on covid corruption, for example, to look at overpriced procurement, but I think most taxpayers who look at the eye-watering sums of money spent on asylum hotels would wonder what on ear…”

“It is an ODA question. It is about the way that we are spending. I will happily ask that if we can bring a Home Office Minister in, because I think it is a really important question to put.”

“We will move the conversation on to alternative non-ODA financing of development. What are the Government doing to support non-ODA mechanisms for financing international development?”

“T6. More than half the homes in my constituency have an energy performance rating of D or worse, and a quarter are off-grid, relying on more expensive fuels, so I welcome this Government’s commitment to a warm homes plan. However, with a lot of rural homes poorly insulated and not suited to heat pumps, will the Secreta…”

“Parties with Members elected to this place should uphold the British values of tolerance and respect, but many constituents have contacted me to express alarm about the way that local officers of the Reform party in County Durham are harassing and smearing local charities and town councillors, and are using their socia…”

“I welcome this Government’s commitment to getting more disposable income in the pockets of working people. At Christmas time a lot of people will want to buy concert tickets; what conversations is the Minister having with Cabinet colleagues on reforming the secondary ticketing market?”

“I appreciate that, in a lot of your answers today, there is some caution, because, quite rightly, you do not want to pre-empt anything. You also want to work collegiately and bring a lot of people on board, but do you have any personal sense of where you would like to take ICAI in achieving that?”

“In your survey response, you also said that ICAI could look at improving the way that it communicates findings. I just wondered if you had any specific ideas around how you might do that.”

“You are touching on this already, but do you think that ICAI can increase its impact?”

“Do you feel that local needs are always taken into account, or is it sometimes the case that those who are giving the funds from above still have a particular agenda that they expect you to work towards?”

“Thank you. I can see that Ms Mtonga wants to come in as well.”

“I can see Mrs Mtonga there and I will bring you in in a moment. What has been your experience of accountability from larger NGOs and institutions in terms of reporting? Obviously, that is often quite a cumbersome part of being a small NGO or a grassroots organisation in receipt of aid. What has been your experience?”

“When it is spent at such a local level then—I appreciate I am asking you for an estimate here—how much is overheads as opposed to funds reaching people on the ground?”

“First, to Dr Ahmed, in your experience, what difference does localisation make to the effectiveness of development projects?”

“I think Dr Ahmed was just trying to come in as well.”