Official Development Assistance: Vulnerable Children
Debate between Lord Sikka and Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
That is the aim of many countries that we are working in. They want to move on from being an aid recipient and be a partner with us, not least in the area of business and economic growth. Relationships, such as on infrastructure and in higher education, are starting to develop. I would like the FCDO to play a leading role in this. As we move towards a change in our approach, having that expertise here in the UK to facilitate those relationships, in finance or technology, is exactly the direction that we should be going in.
Lord Sikka (Lab)
My Lords, as there is a lull, I might take an opportunity to ask the Minister a question. The Department for Work and Pensions has stated that, as a result of the planned benefit cuts, an extra 50,000 UK children will be pushed into poverty. Can the Minister explain why that outcome is acceptable to the Government?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
My Lords, that would be straying slightly beyond my remit on development. However, I would point out that all of us ought to be deeply concerned about the lack of attendance at school, about mental health affecting too many of our young people and about too often their inability to access the world of work at an early age. We know that that scarring can last a lifetime. The work that the Department for Work and Pensions is doing is about supporting properly those young people into careers so that they can lead fulfilling, healthy lives.
International Anti-Corruption Court
Debate between Lord Sikka and Baroness Chapman of Darlington(10 months ago)
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Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
I will take on board the comments of the noble Baroness.
Lord Sikka (Lab)
My Lords, while the Minister is looking into various things, can I also invite her to look at the failure of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 to prosecute any corporation for tax evasion? The law was specifically introduced for that purpose, but nobody has been prosecuted.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
The noble Lord’s question highlights the diverse nature of the issues we face. We are looking at kleptocracy and, as he references, tax evasion; we are also looking at proceeds of crime and unexplained wealth. There are very many strands to this, and I welcome his invitation to consider them in a rather more holistic way. This is perhaps a good time to remind noble Lords about the vigour the Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary and Chancellor are determined to use to tackle these issues in a more rounded and holistic way.