Mark Lazarowicz's disaster plea

EDINBURGH North and Leith Labour MP Mark Lazarowicz has called for an assurance that budget cuts will not affect Britain's ability to respond to disasters around the world.

Speaking in the Commons, he said expert and skilled staff were essential in responding to humanitarian emergencies.

And he said at a time when the Department for International Development was reducing its administration budget by a third, the Government must maintain the necessary investment in humanitarian skills.