Government Minister Hilary Benn commended the Telegraph & Argus and the people of Bradford yesterday for their swift and continuing response to the devastating earthquake in Kashmir and Pakistan.

The Secretary of State for International Development was in Bradford to speak at the University's annual development lecture, which was organised by the university's Centre for International Development.

He said: "The response from the community in Bradford has been terrific.

"This was a disaster which, over all, claimed so many lives and touched the lives of so many people here and across West Yorkshire."

Mr Benn, who is a Leeds MP and the Prime Minister's Africa representative, said: "I really commend and welcome the work done by the Telegraph & Argus.

"We are living in an increasingly interdependent world and this earthquake and the effect it has had on people thousands of miles away is just a reminder of the interdependence.

"It is important that we tap into people's national desire to help even if they have not got family in the Northern Frontier. Britain is a country that reflects that interdependence and Bradford reflects that interdependence, it is the world in microcosm."

Mr Benn said £53 million of the £58 million worth of aid that had been pledged by the Government had already been delivered to victims.

He added that £70 million would also be spent on reconstruction, and other decisions as to how the money will be spent would be made by the Government of Pakistan, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

After the lecture Mr Benn met representatives from the multi-faith Bradford District Faiths Forum at the Thornbury Centre, Leeds Old Road.

The Minister gave a speech in which he thanked the community and the people of Bradford for their continued support in the wake of the earthquake.

Zahida Khan, chairman of the Faiths Forum, said: "I am very happy with the event and I think it is an opportunity for us to highlight the hard work that the Department for International Development does on a large scale and all the work that is happening."