Point of Order

01 Apr

General Debate

Point of Order

The General Debate session titled 'Point of Order' focused on the commitment of the UK Foreign Secretary to provide oral evidence to the International Development Committee. Sarah Champion, representing Rotherham, raised concerns about the delay in the Foreign Secretary's appearance, highlighting the need for discussions on current international developments. Responding to the point, the Foreign Secretary addressed previous and upcoming appearances before various committees, reaffirming a commitment to appear before the International Development Committee by the end of summer or during the September recess.

30 May

Next appearance of the Foreign Secretary before the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee.

September recess

Tentative timeline given for the Foreign Secretary's appearance before the International Development Committee.

Outcome

The immediate outcome of the debate was an assurance from the Foreign Secretary to provide the required oral evidence by the mentioned timeline. Moreover, other scheduled appearances before various parliamentary committees were reiterated.

Key Contributions

Sarah ChampionSpeaker

Labour

Expressed concern over the delayed oral evidence session by the Foreign Secretary, despite commitments and repeated efforts to schedule it.

Madam Deputy SpeakerSpeaker

Ms Nusrat Ghani

Acknowledged the notice of the point of order and indicated that the Foreign Secretary is willing to respond to the inquiry.

Mr LammySpeaker

Outlined past and upcoming engagements with parliamentary committees, reiterating a commitment to appear before the International Development Committee by the end of summer or during the September recess, in response to the point of order raised.

Original Transcript

Sarah Champion

Rotherham

Lab

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. Can you advise me on how I can encourage the Foreign Secretary to give evidence? Much is going on in the world that we need to discuss.

Madam Deputy Speaker

Ms Nusrat Ghani

12:44

I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving notice of her point of order. The Chair is not responsible for ministerial appearances before Select Committees, but I can see that the Foreign Secretary is keen to respond. No doubt he will have a positive response to her point of order right now.

The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Mr David Lammy

Further to that point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I just remind the House that I appeared before the Foreign Affairs Committee on 4 December and I will be appearing in front of the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee on 30 May.

We have made changes to development, as has been discussed in the House this afternoon. My right hon. Friend Baroness Chapman will be appearing before the International Development Committee on 13 May. Of course I will appear again before the Foreign Affairs Committee and in front of my hon.

Friend’s Committee in due course. I hope to do that by the end of the summer or in the September recess period.

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