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Wednesday Volume 649 21 November 2018 No. 209 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 21 November 2018 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2018 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 845 21 NOVEMBER 2018 846 return. In that context, is the Department constructing House of Commons its aid programme to reflect the fact that the vast majority of Rohingya refugees will be in Bangladesh for Wednesday 21 November 2018 the foreseeable future? Penny Mordaunt: I am pleased to say that the The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Government of Bangladesh have respected the principle of voluntary return and have stated, quite rightly, that PRAYERS they will continue to do so. Our planning approach remains that refugees and host communities will require support in Bangladesh for some time, even when credible [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] voluntary returns processes begin. Mr Speaker: It has been brought to my attention that Sir Henry Bellingham: The plight of the Rohingya some football skills were displayed in the Chamber people is the worst regional crisis since the Bangladesh yesterday evening after the House rose. I am informed famine of 1974, which led to 1.5 million deaths. The that the Doorkeepers on duty told the Members concerned UK’s response has been outstanding. Can the Secretary that the Chamber was not the place for that activity. of State say something about the pressure we are putting However,those Doorkeepers were advised that permission on other countries to meet their commitments? What is had been given. Let me assure the House that that her view of the supine conduct of Aung San Suu Kyi? permission certainly did not come from me. I have received gracious—indeed, fulsome—letters of Penny Mordaunt: My hon. Friend is quite right to apology from the hon. Members for Chatham and point out that in addition to our own funding, we Aylesford (Tracey Crouch), for Barnsley East (Stephanie continue to ask other international partners to lean in. Peacock) and for Sheffield, Heeley (Louise Haigh) in Generous international support has ensured that the relation to this incident. I think I can speak for us all current international appeal, which continues to the when I say that our historic Chamber should not be end of this year, is now funded to 72%. However, this is used for this type of activity, and I gently remind likely to be a protracted crisis, and sustained funding colleagues that if they are seeking to use the Chamber will be needed. What every refugee wants is to return outside of sitting hours, other than for the purpose of home, and clearly the Burmese Government have a key simply showing it to guests, frankly they should write to role in providing assurances to people who want to go me asking for their request to be considered. I have said back home. what I have said. There are no hard feelings, and I consider the matter to be closed. Carol Monaghan (Glasgow North West) (SNP): Many of the babies conceived last summer as a result of rape have now been born, and conditions in the camps are still abysmal. What post-natal support is being given for Oral Answers to Questions the babies and mothers who have been left with nothing? Penny Mordaunt: This is one of the things that the INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT UK in particular has been able to do. We have provided the lion’s share of the pre-birth maternity services, which ranges from the midwives who were there providing The Secretary of State was asked— support and caring for those infants, to healthcare, vaccinations and ensuring that they are prioritised and Rohingya in better facilities. Most of those births were during peak cyclone season. 1. Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con): What steps she is taking to provide long-term support to the Rohingya. Kate Osamor (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op): The chair of [907725] the UN fact-finding mission in Myanmar has told the Security Council that the situation today is “an ongoing 12. Sir Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con): genocide”. Meanwhile, the United Nations High What steps she is taking to provide long-term support Commissioner for Refugees says that the conditions in to the Rohingya. [907737] the country are The Secretary of State for International Development “not yet conducive for returns”. (Penny Mordaunt): Wehave provided £129 million towards Non-governmental organisations on the ground echo alleviating the crisis in Bangladesh since August last these grave concerns about the pending repatriations of year and helped to reach nearly 1 million people with refugees back to Myanmar. Will the Secretary of State life-saving support. We will continue to be a leader in tell us what the Government are doing to ensure that no the international response, supporting the Government refugee is forcibly returned to Myanmar? of Bangladesh to meet the ongoing needs of the Rohingya refugees and host communities. Penny Mordaunt: On the point that the hon. Lady makes about accountability and justice, it is right that Mary Robinson: The first official day of repatriating we must look at all options, including the International thousands of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar ended in Criminal Court. Obviously, it is vital that we work with failure last week, after no one agreed to voluntarily the Bangladeshi Government to ensure that more 847 Oral Answers 21 NOVEMBER 2018 Oral Answers 848 appropriate facilities are put in place for people and been made to ensure better safety. Practical issues such that the main camp is broken down. A huge amount of as lighting, making sure that people are safe at night, is work has gone into ensuring that the refugees there an important part of that. However, there are always know what their rights are, and although earlier it was concerns that there is more to be done. We have directed described as a “failure”, actually the success of that our efforts not just to supporting infrastructure, but to failed repatriation was that nobody got on that bus, or practical work with clinics and safe spaces for women felt obliged to or was coerced into getting on that bus. and girls. Above all, this is about making sure that people have somewhere to go if they fear there is any Kate Osamor: We understand that the Government risk, but sadly, too many people in the camps report are concerned and we all share the concern deeply, so that, as time goes on, this will still be something they does the Secretary of State agree that the UNHCR is need help to counter. the best-placed agency to co-ordinate support to refugees on the ground? If so, is the Secretary of State concerned Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) that the agency has reportedly not been consulted or (Lab): Last month, I attended a fundraising event held informed about the decision to start repatriations, and by the North East Rohingya Solidarity Campaign, which what is the Department doing to address this? raised over £7,000 to help establish a centre for women and girls to protect those refugees from trafficking, Penny Mordaunt: This is incredibly important. We abuse and forced prostitution. Will the Minister outline have long made the case—not just in Bangladesh, but in what more the Government could do to support our Burma—for the UN agencies to be given access and, local communities across the UK who are standing so obviously, the information that they need to co-ordinate much in solidarity with the people described as the things properly. We will continue to make the case for “most persecuted on Earth”? that. We all need to work together to make sure that these refugees are taken care of, and that eventually Alistair Burt: First, I thank the hon. Lady for her they will be able to go back home. questions and comments, and I very much support what she has been doing in her local community. With our Rohingya Women and Girls small charities fund, Aid Match, this all goes to work to support local communities who are doing what they are 2. Mohammad Yasin (Bedford) (Lab): What steps the doing, and to support the charities that are engaged Government are taking to tackle gender-based violence with the work, where the United Kingdom is also against Rohingya women and girls. [907726] providing the funding. All these things make a contribution to safe spaces, and to giving those who are running the The Minister of State, Department for International camp the support they need to counter what they fear Development (Alistair Burt): The United Kingdom has will be continuing issues of domestic violence and attempted prioritised protecting and safeguarding women and girls trafficking in the camps the longer they are there. in the speed and scale of our response to the Rohingya crisis. Our latest funding to the crisis will reach over UK Aid 250,000 people affected by sexual and gender-based violence with targeted training, psychosocial support, 3. Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con): What steps her and sexual and reproductive health treatment. Department is taking to ensure that UK aid is allocated to where it is most needed. [907727] Mohammad Yasin: Hundreds of incidents of gender- based violence are being reported each week in Rohingya 7. Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): What steps her refugee camps. In line with the recommendations in the Department is taking to ensure that UK aid is allocated 2015 global report on Security Council resolution 1325, to where it is most needed.

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