Speeches by Champion.

“Madam Deputy Speaker, you know that I am a proud steel MP, so it has pained me to watch my business wither on the vine under the last Government. I am incredibly grateful to the Minister for acting so decisively to save British Steel, but in the steel strategy, can she commit to look at the underlying problems affectin…”

“This is my final question. I am interested that you have decoupled aid from the ODA commitments. If the Chancellor is right and GNI goes up—and, indeed, if the Home Office is right and they are able to get down the number of refugees who are in hotels in this country—will the aid budget go up as a consequence?”

“Hello, Prime Minister. You know that defence and foreign aid go hand in hand in preventing conflicts and dealing with humanitarian crises. Now you have slashed the aid budget, I am interested to hear who you think is safer in the world.”

“And can I—”

“Let me focus on you and your vision. The Center for Global Development and Save the Children have done quite detailed analysis on the cuts that you have made. Basically, you will have to axe all bilateral support for education, water sanitation, nutrition, sexual and maternal health, and support for women and girls. Yo…”

“But what is the vision? What do you want to do? We understand the financial constraints but, if you were starting with a blank canvas, what is your vision for development?”

“Another cornerstone, I would argue, Prime Minister, is international law. I am not a lawyer, but it feels to many that Israel is acting without any accountability toward international law. You are a lawyer and our Prime Minister, so can you please tell us how the UK will comply with the International Court of Justice’s…”

“What are we doing to hold countries to account?”

“And Israel and the occupation of Palestine?”

“I have spoken to many humanitarian workers around the world who feel that Israel is not being held to account, particularly when it comes to international humanitarian law. Will we be pushing for an inquiry into the 15 humanitarian workers who were killed on 23 March?”

“On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. After much chasing in October last year, the Foreign Secretary committed to give oral evidence to my International Development Committee early in the new year. He has not done so to date and we do not have a date in the diary, despite repeated requests from my Committee team. …”

“On 23 March in Gaza, eight medics in the Palestinian Red Crescent, five responders from the civil defence and a UN staff member were killed by the IDF while responding to casualties. Their bodies have been returned today. International humanitarian law is clear: medical personnel, ambulances, humanitarian relief worker…”

“I rise to speak to my amendment (a) to Lords amendment 2, which I hope might act as a bridge between our two Houses. Although I welcome this Bill, from the moment it started its journey through Parliament I have been issuing a warning. Without proper safeguards in place, our transition to net zero will be carried throu…”

“My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The work that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has done to protect the most vulnerable—I am thinking particularly of children, people with disabilities and people in marginalised communities—is exemplary, but I cannot stand here and say that we will be able to continu…”

“I thank everybody who has spoken in the debate, and express my deep regret that some were unable to do so, but there are many avenues in this House for Members to make their voices heard. I end by saying that I am very concerned about those who might step in, with less generous intent, if we leave the international sta…”

“I thank the Backbench Business Committee for selecting this subject for this very timely debate, which is in my name and the name of my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry). I also thank the members of the International Development Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee …”

“I thank my hon. Friend and fellow Committee member. As he is well aware, the Committee is doing a value-for-money inquiry, and Gavi is one of the best ways to get value for money by vaccinating children around the world. It is not just that the House wants that commitment to Gavi and all other bodies. Do the British pu…”

“The Government procurement budget is around £300 billion. Can the Minister please tell us what percentage of his allocation will go to British businesses? Will he confirm that where we have to import, no modern slavery will be imported into this country?”

“I am very proud that Beatson Clark manufactures glass right in the heart of my constituency and has done so for 270 years; it employs 200 people directly and a further 2,000 in the supply chain. Glass can be recycled almost infinitely. Currently, almost 74% of glass is recycled, and 80% of that comes from kerbside coll…”

“I rise happier than when I sat down. I thank the Minister for clarifying that. The sector has legitimate concerns that the DRS will lead to poor environmental outcomes, with less recycled glass going back for remelt, as it will likely be crushed in the process, thus rendering it unsuitable for its purpose. The DRS coul…”