This afternoon I attended a policy forum with Secretaries of State for Defence, International Development and Foreign Affairs.

The debate was very broad, from Trident and Iranian nuclear proliferation, to humanitarian aid.

I was very lucky to be selected to ask Douglas Alexander and David Miliband whether their aims for international cooperation and dispute resolution are realised in supporting international river basin states to work together to promote regional cohesion and optimal management of water based resources.

The answer I received was very encouraging, with examples given from both Egypt and Ethiopia sharing the Nile, and Bangladesh receiving its waters from the Himalayas.

I shall have to dig deeper into these policy measures and achievements – hopefully on the DfID website.