Part of Oral Answers to Questions — International Development – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 24 January 2007.
Crispin Blunt
Opposition Whip (Commons)
11:30,
24 January 2007
I think there is a problem. Engaging with the Islamic world is a central British policy objective. The Foreign Office budget is under enormous pressure and will be reduced in the comprehensive spending review. The Department for International Development's budget is increasing, so would it not make sense for it to help fund the policy of engaging with the Islamic world, which would surely make its work in relieving poverty in countries such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Yemen and Jordan, to name but a few, much easier, and would also support wider British policy objectives that are of central concern to this country's security? Surely they involve the Department.