(Harrow East) (Con):
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, Britain is rightly providing aid
and assistance to the thousands of people who have had their
homes destroyed and their lives ruined. Ministers have kept this
House up to date with what is going on. However, at the same
time, on the Indian subcontinent, hundreds of people have lost
their lives and thousands have lost their homes and their
livelihoods, yet we have had no statement about that from the
Government. Given that this is part and parcel of our
Commonwealth responsibilities, as well as our wider
responsibilities on international development, will my right hon.
Friend make sure that, on our return, we have a statement to the
House on the work that we are doing as the United Kingdom to
support our Commonwealth partners?
, Leader of the House:
That issue has been raised in business questions a number of
times. I know that our colleagues in the Foreign Office and the
Department for International Development are following very
closely what is going on with the appalling floods in south-east
Asia. Our pre-positioned relief supplies ensured that thousands
of people in Bangladesh and Nepal did receive immediate support
following the terrible floods. We have allocated a further
£400,000 to the Nepal Red Cross Society for monsoon flood
response that will provide clean water, and help with food,
financial support and so on. India has not requested
international assistance, but we continue to monitor the
situation very closely, and I will take up that point with
Departments.
