International Development and Humanitarian Assistance Act 2001
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:52 pm
Madam Speaker,
I rise today in my capacity as the Foreign Secretary to present the International Development and Humanitarian Assistance Act before the house today.
The modern world in our shores sees progressions beyond our wildest dreams in technology, personal prosperity and the modernisation of our economy. We are reaching for the stars as we navigate the 21st century, but it is a harsh reality that not every nation is able to reach these heights just yet. We are in a privileged position in this country to have the starting position and available capital investment, where the funds come from the public purse and corporations in the private sector. In many highly-indebted counties, this type of investment is non-existent not through lack of want, but a frank lack of resources and inability to borrow any level of capital due to high interest on existing loans.
We also are unique in the world in that we have education available to all children, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, creed or wealth. Parents don’t have the burdens of paying vast amounts of the very fundamentals of a child’s education and don’t have to take a trek for miles upon miles to the nearest school. Parents don’t have to use a significant portion of their finances to pay for basic classroom materials. Millions of children around the world don’t have reliable access to their education, Madam Speaker, leaving them at a significant disadvantage in comparison to children of the same age in more developed countries. Now only this, Madam Speaker, but there is a significant disparity between young girls and young boys in such instances. In my opinion, Madam Speaker, this is a problem which is vastly wrong but we must also look in the mirror on this issue.
Sadly, Madam Speaker, this is the reality in many countries in the world. We in this country have the opportunity to show moral leadership and we have already committed to the Millenium Development Goals outlined by the United Nations in 2000. It isn’t possible for me to outline every intention of these goals before the House in the time I have allocated, Madam Speaker, but it is the opinion of the Government that we need to enshrine our words into action and our actions into legally binding targets with a framework for sustainable aid frameworks to high-indebted and poor countries and beyond. The legislation I lay before the house today, Madam Speaker, is comprehensive in nature and outlines an important accountability framework for Her Majesty’s Government.
The Millenium Development Goals, Madam Speaker, outline a target for member states to provide 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) dedicated to International Development programs directed at developing countries. It is very easy, Madam Speaker, to assert this in a budget and by the next statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the headlines will be forgotten about. This is not how responsible and modern Government should function. Therefore, this legislation creates a clear legally binding commitment for the Government to spend at least 0.7% of GNI on aid by the year 2010. Not only does it create that legally binding commitment, Madam Speaker, but it ensures that this House has specific duties to hold the Government to account - something I suspect the opposition will be very pleased with. The Secretary of State will be responsible for reporting to the House the progress that has or hasn’t been made towards the target, with the former naturally being preferred. Not only does the legislation create this target, Madam Speaker, but creates a reporting framework for this House to get a detailed report from the Secretary of State on exactly how the International Development budget has been spent in developing countries. We believe, Madam Speaker, that this country can only lead on these issues when held publicly accountable for our aid programmes.
It is important, Madam Speaker, that these aid programs are targeted in the right way and have the correct intentions. It is important to understand the needs of the Governments in developing countries, as well as take opinions from trustworthy NGOs in the regions applicable. This is why, Madam Speaker, that this legislation makes formal provision for a Chief Development Advisor to the relevant Ambassador or High Commissioner, where applicable, to ensure dedicated, specialist personnel are on hand to discuss these issues first hand.
Proactive, targeted aid programmes are all well and good Madam Speaker, but mother nature can be cruel. Sadly, developing countries are often in particularly vulnerable climates which can be devastating to food supply and critical infrastructure. Damage to either can create crippling humanitarian disasters. In my additional capacity as the Defence Secretary, Madam Speaker, I am also proud to present more direct action in response to these events. I today announce the establishment of the Civilian Response Corps, a new regiment of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. This regiment will have the responsibility and specialist training to support stabilisation and reconstruction activities in foreign countries or regions that are at risk of, in, or are in transition from, conflict, civil strife, or natural disaster. We must help those who do not have the resources to help themselves when afflicted by mother nature or otherwise. This regiment, Madam Speaker, includes at least 250 people ready for active deployment at any time, 2,500 personnel in the standby corps and 1,000 in reserve. The details of these numbers can be found in the legislation printed before Members, Madam Speaker.
The Government are proud to be taking an internationally recognised big step forward so soon into the 15 year period defined by the Millenium Development Goals. We are signalling to our allies the moral leadership required to help those in need and a clear indication to those in developing countries that you will not get left behind, you will not be alone in your time of need and you will not be left to your own devices in the modern world. We are collectively better when we work together and, Madam Speaker, I commend this bill to the House.
Legislation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GjU ... sp=sharing (Original credit goes to Blakesley whilst in Cabinet as Foreign Secretary; I was somewhat involved in its conception in my original capacity as Defence Secretary).
I rise today in my capacity as the Foreign Secretary to present the International Development and Humanitarian Assistance Act before the house today.
The modern world in our shores sees progressions beyond our wildest dreams in technology, personal prosperity and the modernisation of our economy. We are reaching for the stars as we navigate the 21st century, but it is a harsh reality that not every nation is able to reach these heights just yet. We are in a privileged position in this country to have the starting position and available capital investment, where the funds come from the public purse and corporations in the private sector. In many highly-indebted counties, this type of investment is non-existent not through lack of want, but a frank lack of resources and inability to borrow any level of capital due to high interest on existing loans.
We also are unique in the world in that we have education available to all children, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, creed or wealth. Parents don’t have the burdens of paying vast amounts of the very fundamentals of a child’s education and don’t have to take a trek for miles upon miles to the nearest school. Parents don’t have to use a significant portion of their finances to pay for basic classroom materials. Millions of children around the world don’t have reliable access to their education, Madam Speaker, leaving them at a significant disadvantage in comparison to children of the same age in more developed countries. Now only this, Madam Speaker, but there is a significant disparity between young girls and young boys in such instances. In my opinion, Madam Speaker, this is a problem which is vastly wrong but we must also look in the mirror on this issue.
Sadly, Madam Speaker, this is the reality in many countries in the world. We in this country have the opportunity to show moral leadership and we have already committed to the Millenium Development Goals outlined by the United Nations in 2000. It isn’t possible for me to outline every intention of these goals before the House in the time I have allocated, Madam Speaker, but it is the opinion of the Government that we need to enshrine our words into action and our actions into legally binding targets with a framework for sustainable aid frameworks to high-indebted and poor countries and beyond. The legislation I lay before the house today, Madam Speaker, is comprehensive in nature and outlines an important accountability framework for Her Majesty’s Government.
The Millenium Development Goals, Madam Speaker, outline a target for member states to provide 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) dedicated to International Development programs directed at developing countries. It is very easy, Madam Speaker, to assert this in a budget and by the next statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the headlines will be forgotten about. This is not how responsible and modern Government should function. Therefore, this legislation creates a clear legally binding commitment for the Government to spend at least 0.7% of GNI on aid by the year 2010. Not only does it create that legally binding commitment, Madam Speaker, but it ensures that this House has specific duties to hold the Government to account - something I suspect the opposition will be very pleased with. The Secretary of State will be responsible for reporting to the House the progress that has or hasn’t been made towards the target, with the former naturally being preferred. Not only does the legislation create this target, Madam Speaker, but creates a reporting framework for this House to get a detailed report from the Secretary of State on exactly how the International Development budget has been spent in developing countries. We believe, Madam Speaker, that this country can only lead on these issues when held publicly accountable for our aid programmes.
It is important, Madam Speaker, that these aid programs are targeted in the right way and have the correct intentions. It is important to understand the needs of the Governments in developing countries, as well as take opinions from trustworthy NGOs in the regions applicable. This is why, Madam Speaker, that this legislation makes formal provision for a Chief Development Advisor to the relevant Ambassador or High Commissioner, where applicable, to ensure dedicated, specialist personnel are on hand to discuss these issues first hand.
Proactive, targeted aid programmes are all well and good Madam Speaker, but mother nature can be cruel. Sadly, developing countries are often in particularly vulnerable climates which can be devastating to food supply and critical infrastructure. Damage to either can create crippling humanitarian disasters. In my additional capacity as the Defence Secretary, Madam Speaker, I am also proud to present more direct action in response to these events. I today announce the establishment of the Civilian Response Corps, a new regiment of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. This regiment will have the responsibility and specialist training to support stabilisation and reconstruction activities in foreign countries or regions that are at risk of, in, or are in transition from, conflict, civil strife, or natural disaster. We must help those who do not have the resources to help themselves when afflicted by mother nature or otherwise. This regiment, Madam Speaker, includes at least 250 people ready for active deployment at any time, 2,500 personnel in the standby corps and 1,000 in reserve. The details of these numbers can be found in the legislation printed before Members, Madam Speaker.
The Government are proud to be taking an internationally recognised big step forward so soon into the 15 year period defined by the Millenium Development Goals. We are signalling to our allies the moral leadership required to help those in need and a clear indication to those in developing countries that you will not get left behind, you will not be alone in your time of need and you will not be left to your own devices in the modern world. We are collectively better when we work together and, Madam Speaker, I commend this bill to the House.
Legislation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GjU ... sp=sharing (Original credit goes to Blakesley whilst in Cabinet as Foreign Secretary; I was somewhat involved in its conception in my original capacity as Defence Secretary).