Oral Answers to Questions

Valerie Vaz Excerpts

Wednesday 18th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I think that proposition is widely endorsed throughout the House.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

Could the Secretary of State go further and make it a condition of aid that those countries eliminate these appalling practices?

[Justine Greening]

We have been careful to work with the momentum in many countries in Africa. One of our biggest challenges is that tackling female genital mutilation can be seen as some kind of western agenda. It is right that we should press those countries and work with them, but we should also be prepared to work with community groups at a grass-roots level if we cannot get the political will behind us. But the hon. Lady is absolutely right to say that, in the end, political will is needed if we are going to make significant progress.