Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gregory Campbell and Penny Mordaunt

Wednesday 21st November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

My hon. Friend is right, and the Prime Minister described “UK Aid” as a “badge of hope”. We should be tremendously proud of all that the British public enable us to do.

[Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)]

How important is it that the Minister maintains diligence in ensuring that fraud and corruption are avoided in delivering our aid to those who need it most?

[Penny Mordaunt]

That is absolutely correct. It is not just fraud and corruption and making sure that our programmes are delivering for the people who need them; we also need to help developing nations to crack down on other fraud and corruption going on. There is no point in us putting aid money into or lending money to countries when more of that money is leaving those countries every year.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gregory Campbell and Penny Mordaunt

Wednesday 23rd May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

I thank my hon. Friend for the opportunity to praise the work of Vision Aid Overseas. It is absolutely right that we want to connect more of these small, fantastic UK charities with the developing world. The “GREAT for Partnership” initiative will help us to do that.

[Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)]

What steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that small charities can avail themselves of the fund with a minimum of bureaucracy to maximise the benefit to the countries they operate in?

[Penny Mordaunt]

I absolutely agree with the issues the hon. Gentleman raises. We are learning from the first wave of applications to the small charities fund. I would like to make it less bureaucratic, more nimble and open to even smaller organisations.