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SNP international development spokesman Chris Law, another member of the committee, says he is "horrified" by the revelations from Haiti.

Today's committee session "left many questions unanswered" and there needs to be "a fuller inquiry", he argues.

"We hear a lot of apologies but we need deeds to match these words," Mr Law says.

Sexual abuse should not be tolerated in "the aid sector, Hollywood or politics", he adds, also voicing concern that the scandal is being used to attack spending on overseas aid.

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The International Development Committee spent three hours this morning taking evidence on sexual exploitation in the sector.

A Conservative member of the committee, James Duddridge says he came away "feeling how appalling the situation is".

He urges Penny Mordaunt "not to leap too quickly into action".

He says it's "quite possible" that "predatory paedophiles" go into situations internationally to abuse individuals.

"We may well be on the precipice of a much bigger problem," he warns.

But Penny Mordaunt thinks it's important to take action now, saying: "We have to start making moves to crack it."

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Former International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell seeks confirmation that none of the senior managers at Oxfam during the Haiti scandal are still in post today.

He also urges Penny Mordaunt to join him in thanking the overwhelming majority of people with "deep integrity" who work in the development sector for the "remarkable work they do in very difficult places".

Penny Mordaunt replies that we should be proud of "those people and what they do".

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International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt says she has set a deadline of 26 February for UK-based organisations to respond to her request for information on safeguards while non-UK based organisations have two weeks.

She defends inviting written responses as "an important way" to allow people with concerns to come forwards.

Ms Mordaunt says she has not heard anyone "attack the aid budget over this", adding that the scandal isn't a reason to stop giving money to charity or stop carrying out aid work.

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Shadow international development secretary Kate Osamor expresses "utter disgust" at the revelations about sexual exploitation by aid workers.

"We need reform," she declares, arguing it's not enough for the government to write to charities.

She says each charity should declare how many incidents they are aware of and how they have been resolved, and this should apply to all charities, not just DfID-funded ones.

She condemns calls for the UK's aid commitments to be reduced as "shameful" and urges Penny Mordaunt to call them out.

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Penny Mordaunt pays tribute to reporters and whistleblowers for bringing the Oxfam Haiti scandal to light.

The revelations were "shocking", the international development secretary says, as was "what Oxfam then did".

The charity failed "to report and follow up incidents of wrongdoing", risking sending the message that "sexual abuse is tolerated".

Ms Mordaunt says the failures took place under former Oxfam chief executive Dame Barbara Stocking and deputy Penny Lawrence.

She adds that Oxfam has agreed not to bid for any government funding until ministers are satisfied that there are improved policies in place, while a total of 192 organisations which receive UK aid must confirm that they have adequate safeguards.

"Now should be a wake-up call for all of us," she tells MPs.

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International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt is making a statement on safeguarding in the aid sector, following reports that some Oxfam staff used prostitutes in Haiti.

Oxfam boss Mark Goldring apologised to the International Development Committee earlier for the damage done to people in Haiti and the wider efforts of aid workers.

He said 26 claims of sexual misconduct were made since the scandal broke.

Save the Children chief executive Kevin Watkins told MPs the charity had investigated 53 allegations in 2016.

MPs also heard that about 7,000 people have stopped making regular donations to Oxfam in the wake of the revelations.

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The SNP's Joanna Cherry picks up on comments made recently by Leave-backing politicians criticising the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

A number of high-profile Brexiteers have suggested that the 1998 deal, also known as the Belfast Agreement, may no longer be fit for purpose.

She asks whether she will join the Irish deputy prime minister in "condemning such language as irresponsible".

In reply Karen Bradley tells MPs she "can only say the government's position" which is that the government "fully supports" the agreement.

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Lady Sylvia Hermon, an independent unionist MP, congratulates Karen Bradley on not being "bounced into direct rule" and insists the people of Northern Ireland want to see MLAs' pay cut.

Ms Bradley welcomes her words.

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Labour backbencher Kate Hoey says that while the people of Northern Ireland would like the Assembly back "what they'd like more is a budget".

She calls on the secretary of state to set one and asks why she's "dilly-dallying and waiting and waiting and waiting?"

Karen Bradley says she's "exploring every possible window of opportunity" to get devolved government up and running.

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Labour MP Vernon Coaker calls on Karen Bradley to be more "open and transparent" about what happened in talks between Sinn Féin and the DUP.

More openness might lead to more support for the politicians involved, he suggests.

In reply Karen Bradley says it would "not be appropriate" for her to "speculate on what happened behind closed doors".

She is encouraging both parties to come back to the table, she adds.

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The DUP's Sammy Wilson says the structure of the Belfast Agreement has given "power of veto and blackmail to Sinn Fein" and "the only way forward is for [Westminster] to start taking some of the decisions".

Karen Bradley stresses her focus is on restoring devolution and ensuring members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are back in their places.

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DUP Westminster Leader Nigel Dodds says that "we, of course, stand ready to reform the executive today" with no pre-conditions. He says that the lack of devolved government is "not the fault of the DUP or of the smaller parties", blaming Sinn Féin.

He goes on to tell the secretary of state to "let the efforts for devolution to continue" but calls on her to "set a budget".

The DUP is the largest unionist party in Stormont.

Karen Bradley thanks Nigel Dodds for the "assertion of the DUP's commitment to devolved government" and says she's going to hold consultations about a new Northern Ireland budget with representatives of the parties, but emphasises the importance of bringing back the assembly.

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The SNP's Patrick Grady says there's "not enough progress" in negotiations and highlights Ireland's opposition to the introduction of direct rule.

He enquires after the circumstances in which she would call another election.

Karen Bradley says her priority is the budget and ensuring civil servants have the certainty they need to keep providing public services.

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Former Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire congratulates his successor, Karen Bradley, for her efforts.

"We need to remain very firmly focused on restoring devolution... rather than talking up direct rule," he says.

Ms Bradley says she agrees with everything Mr Brokenshire has said.

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Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Smith commends the secretary of state's "Herculean optimism" in refusing to give up hope for a deal, which he says is an important quality in Northern Ireland.

But he says he's "none the wiser" following her statement and questions her claims that a deal was close, saying that the DUP has said there was "no prospect" of the talks leading to the deal.

He criticises MPs who, in recent days, have been trying to "advance their own agendas and undermine the Good Friday Agreement" because they see it as an "obstacle to Brexit".

He welcomes government support for the agreement and asks for confirmation that they see it as the "only long term option" for Northern Ireland.

He calls on the government to publish exactly where there was agreement in the talks and asks for confirmation that one issue discussed was gay marriage.

He asks if the parties did agree to take the issue forward via a private member's bill and if Stormont doesn't return, the UK government will legislate on the matter. He says that "a Labour government would legislate on this if Stormont would not".

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Karen Bradley also tells MPs that it is right to "consider the issue of salaries for assembly members".

MLAs have still been paid despite the fact the assembly has not been sitting for over a year.

She adds that last year previous Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire received recommendations in this area from a former clerk of the assembly.

"The government will need to decide shortly on the next steps", she adds.

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Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley says the UK government believes the parties went into the talks on power sharing "with good faith".

She adds that although the "current phase" of talks has failed to reach a deal, the "clear hope and desire" of ministers is to see the devolved assembly restored.

To murmurs of approval, she adds that the government's commitment to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement remains "steadfast".

However she adds that she intends to take steps to "provide clarity" on a new budget, telling MPs that Northern Ireland "cannot remain in a state of limbo".

"This is clearly not where I want to be, but in the absence of an executive in Northern Ireland, I have no other choice", she adds.

Mark Devenport
Political editor, Northern Ireland

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Back in the tumultuous days after the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal brought down the Stormont Executive, both the DUP and Sinn Féin dug themselves into some very deep holes.

Sinn Féin said they wouldn't share power with Arlene Foster as First Minister.

Mrs Foster ruled out an Irish Language Act and vowed not to feed the "crocodiles".

Since then each side's negotiators have been trying to extricate themselves from their respective trenches.

Read more.

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MPs are now hearing a statement from Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley following the latest failed bid to restore power sharing there.

The talks ended last week after the DUP declared there was "no current prospect" of a deal. Both parties had been in negotiations in a bid to end the 13-month stalemate at Stormont.

DUP leader Arlene Foster has urged Karen Bradley to set a budget and take key decisions about the region's schools, hospitals and infrastructure.

However Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has warned direct rule is not an option for Northern Ireland.