Tuesday Volume 679 8 September 2020 No. 96 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 8 September 2020 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 477 8 SEPTEMBER 2020 478 James Cleverly: As I say, my right hon. Friends the House of Commons Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have engaged at the highest levels with the Lebanese Government, Tuesday 8 September 2020 and ensuring that there is political and economic stability, as well as security, is key. We support the Lebanese The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Government in many ways, including through the Lebanese armedforces,whichrecruitcross-faithandcross-community. Our diplomatic efforts go hand in hand with our PRAYERS humanitarian efforts.My right hon. Friend will understand that future designations under our autonomous Magnitsky [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] sanctions regime are not something that we wish to Virtual participation in proceedings commenced speculate about at the Dispatch Box, but we will ensure (Order, 4 June). that our support to the people of Lebanon, and Beirutis in particular, continues. [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] Tim Farron: Migrants are crossing the channel partly because of a lack of safe and legal routes. Refugee Oral Answers to Questions resettlement, including from Lebanon, is a safe and legal route, but the pandemic has understandably seen it suspended. Now is surely the time to reopen those safe FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND and legal routes. Will the Minister take steps this week DEVELOPMENT OFFICE to assist the Lebanese Government in restoring safe routes to the UK for refugees? The Secretary of State was asked— James Cleverly: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. In 2015, the then Prime Minister committed Lebanon to help 20,000 vulnerable refugees. As of March this Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con): What steps the year, 19,768 had been taken in by the UK, in a typical Government are taking to support the Lebanese people act of generosity. As I say, future acceptances will be since the explosion in that country on 4 August 2020. dependent on the covid situation, which we will keep under review. [905639] Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD): What Royston Smith: Before last month’s tragic blast in recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary Beirut, Lebanon was already facing financial ruin, requiring on restarting the resettlement of refugees from Lebanon. investment from regional partners.Countries will obviously [905650] be reluctant to invest if they feel that some of their money may go to help fund Hezbollah and its activities. Royston Smith (Southampton, Itchen) (Con): What Has my right hon. Friend had conversations with his steps the Government are taking to support the Lebanese counterparts in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates people since the explosion in that country on 4 August 2020. and other Gulf states about what they can do to help [905664] Lebanon in its time of need? The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa James Cleverly: My hon. Friend is right that the (James Cleverly): Our thoughts remain with the people diplomatic efforts of the Foreign, Commonwealth and affected by the terrible events in Beirut. The Prime Development Office go hand in hand with its humanitarian Minister, the Foreign Secretary and I spoke with the efforts. We have indeed spoken to good friends of the Lebanese President, Prime Minister and ambassador UK across the region about what more they can do to respectively. We rapidly deployed UK medical, support the Lebanese people. I hear what he says about humanitarian, military and logistics experts to support concerns about money going to Hezbollah, and I can Beirutis in their response to the blast. The UK is a assure him that the money committed by my right hon. long-standing friend of the Lebanese people, and we Friend the Foreign Secretary to support the Lebanese were pleased to commit £25 million to help the most was targeted directly at the vulnerable people in need vulnerable. and did not go through Hezbollah. On refugee resettlement, the resumption of arrivals remains dependent on covid-19 developments Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East) (Lab) [V]: One internationally and in the UK. We are not in a position month on from the horrific explosion in Beirut and the to resume arrivals in the short term. subsequent collapse of the Lebanese Government, the UK Government have rightly pledged aid to support Philip Dunne [V]: I thank the Minister for that answer the people of Lebanon. Global leadership is urgently and for the UK humanitarian response. The Lebanese needed now to ensure the rapid reconstruction of the people have suffered greatly from the consequences of port of Beirut, to allow vital supplies and international civil war and then failed political institutions. What is aid to reach those in need. How are the Government the Minister doing to help bring about a stable political planning to work with our international allies, such as settlement, to allow the people of Lebanon to restore France, to ensure that aid is delivered swiftly and directly peace and security to their lives? Will he and the Foreign to those who need it most on the ground in Lebanon Secretary consider introducing Magnitsky-style sanctions and that the port can resume its vital role as a point of in conjunction with other key members of the international entry for UN aid to the whole region, including Syria, community if any political leaders are found culpable? Iraq and Jordan? 479 Oral Answers 8 SEPTEMBER 2020 Oral Answers 480 James Cleverly: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely opportunity to bring together security, foreign and right about the importance of Beirut as a port city for development work and leverage that behind tackling the Lebanese—a traditionally internationalist and climate change? commercially minded people. On international leadership, my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the James Duddridge: I do agree with the thrust of the Foreign Secretary engaged very swiftly at the highest question. The world is looking for the UK to show level and, in her role as Secretary of State at the Department global leadership in one of the greatest challenges of for International Development, my right hon. Friend our time. The creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth the Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Anne-Marie and Development Office brings together our diplomatic Trevelyan) engaged within days with an international and development experiences, which means that we can group of leaders—national leaders—to co-ordinate the do more to tackle climate change. The Department and response. I am very proud that British expertise, including I are working very closely with ministerial colleagues to under-sea survey experts, was deployed at haste to support this agenda. In particular, we are working with Beirut to help with the technical support in its rebuilding Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, who is known well programme. to Members in this Chamber. Climate Change: International Co-operation Jerome Mayhew: If we are to achieve our goal of carbon net zero by 2050, some form of effective carbon taxation that takes account of the challenges of international Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth) (Con): What progress the trade will be necessary. Given that, what negotiations Government has made through international co-operation has the Department had with our European partners on tackling climate change. [905640] on the establishment of an effective system of carbon border adjustment payments? Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): What progress the Government has made through James Duddridge: I have discussed this incredibly international co-operation on tackling climate change. important and technical matter with Treasury officials. [905653] I can reassure the House that we remain a global leader on decarbonisation and recognise that, as we cut domestic Jerome Mayhew (Broadland) (Con): What progress emissions, it is important to ensure that that does not the Government has made through international co- lead to emissions elsewhere. An active debate is under operation on tackling climate change. [905665] way on which interventions are going to work, and the Government are monitoring and actively engaging with those discussions. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (James Duddridge): Preet Kaur Gill (Birmingham, Edgbaston) (Lab/Co-op): The UK is leading by example on climate change. We To avoid scrutiny, the Secretary of State snuck out cuts are the first major economy to legislate on net zero by of £2.9 billion from the aid budget on the day Parliament 2050. Globally, we have provided 33 million people with rose for the summer recess. That is around 20% of the improved access to clean energy and helped 66 million aid budget, despite the fact that projections of an people cope with the effects of climate change. As economic downturn suggested a required fall of something co-host of the conference of the parties and president closer to 9%. Can the Secretary of State tell us where of the G7 next year, we will bring together accelerated those cuts will come from, and how the Government action on the climate change crisis. will ensure that they tackle poverty and the climate crisis and deliver value for money for the British people? Dr Luke Evans: With the UK being president of the Will he today commit to ending the use of UK aid and climate change conference, COP26, I am really pleased investment to fund fossil fuel projects in the global to see the Government bring forward proposals that south? would prohibit large businesses from using products that have been grown on illegally deforested places such James Duddridge: The Government take our as in the Amazon, but what steps is the Minister’s responsibilities very seriously.