Wednesday Volume 548 11 July 2012 No. 30 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 11 July 2012 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2012 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through The National Archives website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/parliamentary-licence-information.htm Enquiries to The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 291 11 JULY 2012 292 Mr O’Brien: Part of our contribution to the multilateral House of Commons agencies goes towards that, not least through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Its work is important Wednesday 11 July 2012 in the provision of water to the peoples of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, not least to provide fair access The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock to drinking water. Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Having visited PRAYERS the Gaza strip earlier this year, may I stress to the Minister the importance of the breakdown of the water [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] and sewerage systems in that benighted territory? Some 20,000 children under three are suffering from avoidable illnesses because 90% of the water is contaminated. Oral Answers to Questions Whose fault that is does not bother the Gazans; they just need the systems to be sorted out. Britain could play an important role in doing that. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Mr O’Brien: My hon. Friend makes an extremely powerful point. Broadly, the answer is yes, not least The Secretary of State was asked— because we make extremely strong representations at Bilateral Aid Review every opportunity on all the points that he has raised. Equally, we are working closely with UNRWA to provide 1. David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con): What progress a practical solution to many of these difficult problems. his Department has made on its objectives for water and sanitation set out in the bilateral aid review. Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ [116152] Co-op): There are still 2.6 billion people worldwide who lack basic sanitation. What are the Government doing The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for to get the international community to meet its obligations International Development (Mr Stephen O’Brien): As is in that respect? made transparent in the Department for International Development’s annual report, since 2010 the United Mr O’Brien: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of Kingdom has given 2 million people access to clean State announced, we are increasing our approach to drinking water, 2 million people improved access to water and sanitation to double our results and reach sanitation and 7.4 million people improved hygiene 60 million people. Indeed, we are seeking to match one services. The right hon. Member for Leeds Central person in the poor world who does not have access to (Hilary Benn) was candid in 2007 when he admitted water and sanitation to every single person living in the that the Labour Government had taken their “eye off United Kingdom. In particular, it is incredible value for the ball” in relation to water and sanitation. I assure my money that about $10—which is often provided by hon. Friend that the coalition will not make the same households themselves—can provide sanitation for one mistake. In April, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of household. State announced our intention to double our results by reaching 60 million people. Development Aid (Legislation) David Rutley: I welcome the fact that under this 2. Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab): What progress Government, 7.4 million people have seen improvements he has made on enshrining in law spending on in their hygiene conditions over the past two years. That international development equal to 0.7% of gross is testimony to the Government’s strength of commitment. national income; and if he will make a statement. What assessment has my hon. Friend made of the [116153] disparity in sanitation between rural and urban dwellings? Mr O’Brien: My hon. Friend makes an extremely The Secretary of State for International Development important point. The Government see providing adequate (Mr Andrew Mitchell): The 0.7 Bill is ready and is with sanitation for poor people in the world’s growing cities the business managers. As the Prime Minister has said, as crucial. We keep a record of the proportion of our the coalition Government will introduce the Bill when results that are achieved in rural and urban areas. We parliamentary time allows. have six bilateral water, sanitation and hygiene—or WASH—programmes in urban areas, including a Stephen Timms: I am grateful to the Secretary of programme to improve WASHservice delivery in 31 slums State for that answer. There was widespread dismay that in Freetown, including in Kroo bay. I volunteered there the Bill was not included in the Queen’s Speech. Why two years ago and went back last week to see the has the commitment made in the coalition agreement progress that has been made. not so far been fulfilled? Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab): What steps Mr Mitchell: The commitment was referred to in the is the Minister taking to improve the situation in the Gracious Speech. The most important thing is to get on Occupied Palestinian Territories, given that 80% of and fulfil the commitment, which has been made on water in the west bank is stolen by Israeli settlers and both sides of the House and by all parties, to give 90% of the water in Gaza is contaminated with sewage development aid equal to 0.7% of our gross national due to the blockades? income. That is what we are doing. The right hon. 293 Oral Answers11 JULY 2012 Oral Answers 294 Gentleman makes a fair point. We must get on with the Mr Mitchell: My hon. Friend is entirely right to legislation. As soon as the business managers say that underline the fact that the coalition Government have there is a slot, we will take it. put girls and women right at the centre of everything we do in development. She refers to the family planning Sir Alan Haselhurst (Saffron Walden) (Con): To those summit, which the British Government are co-hosting who continue to doubt whether, in this time of austerity, with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. That we should stick to our eminently worthwhile target, is it summit has the power, if successful, to reduce by half not worth pointing out that 99.3% of gross national the number of women in the poor world who want income will still be available for all other purposes? access to contraception but do not have it. Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP): Mr Mitchell: My right hon. Friend makes an extremely As the UK emerges—hopefully—from recession over good point. Many Members will agree that under 1% of the next two or three years, 0.7% of GNI will represent gross national income is an incredibly good investment a significant increase in spending. What is the Secretary in the future prosperity and security of the countries in of State doing to ensure that UK citizens see value for which we work as well as in Britain’s prosperity and money? security. Mr Mitchell: The hon. Gentleman rightly identifies Mr Ivan Lewis (Bury South) (Lab): I say to the the importance of being able to demonstrate to hard-pressed Secretary of State that we can get on with it. My hon. taxpayers that every pound of their hard-earned money Friend the Member for Preston (Mark Hendrick) has is really delivering 100p of value on the ground. That is tabled a private Member’s Bill that would enshrine the exactly what the Government are doing in the case of 0.7% commitment in law. It has all-party support and is development policy. The 0.7% commitment to which consistent with promises made in all three main parties’ the hon. Gentleman refers reflects the state of the election manifestos and the coalition agreement. The economy, because the spending figure will go up and Secretary of State is fully aware that the success of down with economic health. Many of us think that is private Members’ Bills depends on Government support. what it should do. Will he confirm that that support will be forthcoming? If not, why not? Syrian Refugees Mr Mitchell: I share the hon. Gentleman’s interest in 3. Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con): What a potential private Member’s Bill, but for the Government humanitarian support his Department is providing for to comment on the Bill it will be necessary for the hon. Syrian refugees; and if he will make a statement. Member concerned to publish it in the Table Office. [116154] Mr Lewis: The Secretary of State is fully aware that 6. Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD): my hon. Friend offered to take the Secretary of State’s What humanitarian support his Department is Bill and use it as the basis of his private Member’s Bill, providing for Syrian refugees; and if he will make a so let us get on with it. statement. [116158] Enshrining the 0.7% commitment in law is only one way of fulfilling our obligation to the world’s poor. Can 7. Mr Sam Gyimah (East Surrey) (Con): What the Secretary of State explain why he has done nothing humanitarian support his Department is providing for to stop measures in the Finance Bill that will enable UK Syrian refugees; and if he will make a statement. multinational companies to avoid paying approximately [116159] £4 billion in tax to developing countries? That could be called legalising tax dodging.