Topica debate on Kenya.

Topica debate on Kenya.

DFID's recent policy has been, rightly, to direct aid in most cases, and wherever possible, directly through the foreign Government concerned. Does my hon. Friend agree that in this case that policy needs reassessing so that we can get money quickly to the NGOs that are involved at the sharp...

DFID's recent policy has been, rightly, to direct aid in most cases, and wherever possible, directly through the foreign Government concerned. Does my hon. Friend agree that in this case that policy needs reassessing so that we can get money quickly to the NGOs that are involved at the sharp...

We have had an excellent debate, with much agreement in the House. Several hon. Members' expertise added to its quality. I shall try to answer all hon. Members' questions—it is a bit disconcerting to be asked questions that one has already answered, but I shall forgive the hon. Member for...

We have had an excellent debate, with much agreement in the House. Several hon. Members' expertise added to its quality. I shall try to answer all hon. Members' questions—it is a bit disconcerting to be asked questions that one has already answered, but I shall forgive the hon. Member for...

I referred to a broader donor co-ordination group, which has agreed a public statement to ensure international co-ordination so that all those involved are aware of the position. The EU signed the development partners' statement, which agreed to reconsider budget support if the current situation continues and to channel a...

I referred to a broader donor co-ordination group, which has agreed a public statement to ensure international co-ordination so that all those involved are aware of the position. The EU signed the development partners' statement, which agreed to reconsider budget support if the current situation continues and to channel a...

For clarification, although DFID provides aid through the Governments of many developing countries through a process called budget support, it does not, because of corruption and for other reasons, use that as a route for delivering aid in Kenya, so it is not a problem in this case.

For clarification, although DFID provides aid through the Governments of many developing countries through a process called budget support, it does not, because of corruption and for other reasons, use that as a route for delivering aid in Kenya, so it is not a problem in this case.

I am clarifying that there will be no aid payments to the Kenyan Government.

I am clarifying that there will be no aid payments to the Kenyan Government.

I welcome the right hon. Lady's intervention. There is a huge amount of anecdotal evidence from media reports. One television channel showed an official leaving the count saying, ““I can't do this anymore, because of what I am being asked to do.”” We have been told what the chair of...

I welcome the right hon. Lady's intervention. There is a huge amount of anecdotal evidence from media reports. One television channel showed an official leaving the count saying, ““I can't do this anymore, because of what I am being asked to do.”” We have been told what the chair of...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that comment and for his expertise on these issues. I entirely endorse what he says.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that comment and for his expertise on these issues. I entirely endorse what he says.

I am grateful for that comment and hope that that is so. We are all united in the belief that it is absolutely essential that Kenya returns to normality as quickly as possible to avoid long-term damage to the economy, to end the suffering of the people, and to protect...

I am grateful for that comment and hope that that is so. We are all united in the belief that it is absolutely essential that Kenya returns to normality as quickly as possible to avoid long-term damage to the economy, to end the suffering of the people, and to protect...

I must admit that I am somewhat resistant to modernisation of the House, but topical debates are a brilliant idea, as a number of contributions clearly demonstrated today. Perhaps I should not admit it as an ex-banker, but sometimes I struggle with numbers—250,000 people in Kenya have been displaced; I...

I must admit that I am somewhat resistant to modernisation of the House, but topical debates are a brilliant idea, as a number of contributions clearly demonstrated today. Perhaps I should not admit it as an ex-banker, but sometimes I struggle with numbers—250,000 people in Kenya have been displaced; I...

Does the hon. Gentleman recognise that the Government already have travel bans in place for some of the individuals concerned, so it would just be an extension of that? The elections were on 27 December. The situation is escalating, so it is incredibly important that the Government bring pressure to...

Does the hon. Gentleman recognise that the Government already have travel bans in place for some of the individuals concerned, so it would just be an extension of that? The elections were on 27 December. The situation is escalating, so it is incredibly important that the Government bring pressure to...

I do not accept the hon. Lady's proposition; in fact, it might get in the way of people travelling here for international discussions about what is happening. Other than that, it has been a good debate. I very much hope that for the young girl whom we sponsor in Kenya,...

I do not accept the hon. Lady's proposition; in fact, it might get in the way of people travelling here for international discussions about what is happening. Other than that, it has been a good debate. I very much hope that for the young girl whom we sponsor in Kenya,...

I am pleased to be able to make a brief contribution to today's topical debate on Kenya and to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend, East (James Duddridge). I have never visited the country, and therefore have no personal experience of it, although I have many...

I am pleased to be able to make a brief contribution to today's topical debate on Kenya and to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend, East (James Duddridge). I have never visited the country, and therefore have no personal experience of it, although I have many...

I welcome that intervention. The hon. Gentleman is right: it will, of course, be key that everybody involved in the Kenyan political process buys into the electoral commission processes, and the body must be seen to be independent. The idea of a Government of national unity is unlikely to work....

I welcome that intervention. The hon. Gentleman is right: it will, of course, be key that everybody involved in the Kenyan political process buys into the electoral commission processes, and the body must be seen to be independent. The idea of a Government of national unity is unlikely to work....

I am extremely pleased that we now have topical debates, and particularly pleased that today's is on Kenya, a country with which I have had involvement over the past few years. Like other hon. Members, I want to consider the political and humanitarian dimensions of the issue. Last summer, I...

I am extremely pleased that we now have topical debates, and particularly pleased that today's is on Kenya, a country with which I have had involvement over the past few years. Like other hon. Members, I want to consider the political and humanitarian dimensions of the issue. Last summer, I...

The hon. Lady is absolutely right: the only lasting solution to the crisis is fresh elections and, as the hon. Member for City of York (Hugh Bayley) says, they should be held relatively soon. Does she not agree that both the parties concerned should use this interim period to reach...

The hon. Lady is absolutely right: the only lasting solution to the crisis is fresh elections and, as the hon. Member for City of York (Hugh Bayley) says, they should be held relatively soon. Does she not agree that both the parties concerned should use this interim period to reach...

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. The observer from this country who was in Kenya as part of the Commonwealth mission said that translations of vernacular radio broadcasts had been obtained and that they showed that the Orange Democratic Movement had appealed for violence, both before and after the...

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. The observer from this country who was in Kenya as part of the Commonwealth mission said that translations of vernacular radio broadcasts had been obtained and that they showed that the Orange Democratic Movement had appealed for violence, both before and after the...

The situation in Kenya is extremely serious, for Kenyans and for black Africa as a whole. Kenya's stability since independence has enabled it to attract inward investment in sectors such as tourism, horticulture, telecoms and banking. It is a low-income country, but not so poor as to count as one...

The situation in Kenya is extremely serious, for Kenyans and for black Africa as a whole. Kenya's stability since independence has enabled it to attract inward investment in sectors such as tourism, horticulture, telecoms and banking. It is a low-income country, but not so poor as to count as one...

I thank the right hon. Lady for that intervention. I have no definitive knowledge of that, but perhaps the Minister will be able to enlighten us. Human Rights Watch has accused the Kenyan police of using live ammunition to disperse protestors and looters, killing and wounding dozens. Have the Government...

I thank the right hon. Lady for that intervention. I have no definitive knowledge of that, but perhaps the Minister will be able to enlighten us. Human Rights Watch has accused the Kenyan police of using live ammunition to disperse protestors and looters, killing and wounding dozens. Have the Government...

I agree with my hon. Friend, who makes an important point. We should stand with the African leaders and support their efforts. I do not want to be prescriptive. I support mediation, but I have to say to the Minister that I doubt that a power-sharing deal would work. Mwai...

I agree with my hon. Friend, who makes an important point. We should stand with the African leaders and support their efforts. I do not want to be prescriptive. I support mediation, but I have to say to the Minister that I doubt that a power-sharing deal would work. Mwai...