Poverty: International Development Aid

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Monday 15th January 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)]

It is the turn of the Cross Benches.

Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Thursday 28th October 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)]

My Lords, the noble Lord highlights a terrible event in Sheffield. We need to ensure, first, that the quality of accommodation is of a standard and we avoid such terrible incidents, and, secondly, that we ensure that we get people into permanent accommodation.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords, do the Government really not know how many interpreters we had in Afghanistan? That seems extraordinary. They must have been paid by the British Government or others on their behalf. Surely the Minister can find out, if she is unable to tell us today, how many we had.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)]

I was not saying that the Government do not know; I said that I did not have the figures at my fingertips, and of course I will find out for the noble Baroness.

Immigration: Refugee Doctors

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Monday 24th February 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The right reverend Prelate will recognise that the ambition for this coming year is that it should exceed previous years, and he will know that under our various resettlement schemes we are on course to resettle 20,000 people from the region this year. It is difficult to make commitments beyond this year because of the spending review, frustrating though that is, but I will keep him posted on our future ambitions for resettling people.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I will certainly confirm in writing if that is the case, because we do not want people who are ineligible to practise. We have had examples of that.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean]

Will the noble Baroness be kind enough, after Oral Questions, to revisit the answer she gave a moment or two ago about the health service being “propped up” by immigrant labour? We rely on many immigrant doctors. Many of us have had experience of relying on those immigrant doctors in this country. It was an unfortunate term to use, considering the shortages, the waiting lists and those people—we all know someone—who have waited a very long time. She should reconsider her answer.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

Noble Lords will know that, in using that word, I did not mean it to be in any way derogatory; nor is it a derogatory term.