Speeches by Gilbert.

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Murrison. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Falkirk (Euan Stainbank) and the hon. and learned Member for North Antrim (Jim Allister) on securing this important debate. My contribution will be short; it will focus on the Government’s approach to securing the …”

“Thank you, Chair. Good afternoon. I want to first ask the panel about the public perception of aid policy. I will go to Jennifer and Luke first: what does your data tell us about what the public think about the current UK Government’s approach to aid?”

“Jennifer, is there anything you want to add?”

“You have touched on my follow-up question around social media. Are there any changes that should be made to consider social media in the sub judice rules?”

“The sub judice rule can at times feel restrictive for Members, often because there is a perception that they are being prevented from discussing matters in Parliament that are being discussed in the outside world and in the media. Do you think that is a fair perception?”

“Thank you, Minister. What reprioritising in geographical or thematic focus has taken place since Yvette Cooper was appointed Foreign Secretary?”

“You have spoken previously about mainstreaming across women and girls within the spend. Do you have a clear idea about how those issues are now going to be mainstreamed and what that looks like?”

“It is great that there is going to be a plan and that there is a strategy, and we look forward to seeing that. Do you have any kind of timeline for what that looks like? I know you said it is to be confirmed, but do we have any idea of what it looks like?”

“On that specific point, how confident are you that the directors and interim directors have the necessary understanding and development for those directorates to make the workforce changes that are currently under way?”

“When we were speaking to the trade unions, it felt like it was the other way round, that they were making decisions and were put in departments before they knew what the department looked like, and they were then having to make those cuts. There is great concern about that loss of expertise, as Brian referred to.”

“Very quickly, I have a follow-up question on women and girls. The evidence shows that every £1 we spend on women and girls is obviously more beneficial than any other spend we make. It helps boys and men every day. Why is there pushback on spending and prioritising that money in that place?”

“You spoke about the measures you have to change to see what it looks like to make sure this is working across the new strategy. Could you tell us what that looks like practically, in terms of those changes to measure it and collect data, and its impact?”

“I strongly welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement. The port of Leith in my constituency is well placed to support logistics and manufacturing for Berwick Bank, which has been successful today. Will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss ensuring that every job possible is secured as a result of this investment?”

“I welcome this debate and congratulate the hon. Member for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey (Graham Leadbitter) on securing it. I am grateful that the Minister recently took the time to visit my constituency and meet residents who had been battling with their factors. They manage a heat network but are all too often le…”

“Do you think that the UK pays enough attention to the holistic approach that you have highlighted?”

“Thank you. On that, Bryan, what does the UK do well, or maybe not so well, in its approach to reducing instability across Nigeria?”

“That moves us nicely to localisation. I have a few questions for you both, but I will start with Tog. What support do local organisations need to better engage with international donors?”

“Thank you both for your answers.”

“Thank you. Going back to Tog, how do you think the UK could improve its model on localisation engagement across Nigeria?”

“Bryan, can you set out how your organisation works with local organisations to develop early-warning systems?”