Clause 5 - Meaning of ``assistance''
International Development Bill
11:00 am
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham, Conservative)
I certainly do not take medical advice from the Liberal Democrats.
Anybody who is as familiar as the Minister must by now be with the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980 will recognise the form of words used in the amendment. In a pattern that is becoming familiar to the Committee, we seek to probe the thinking behind the formulation of the Bill. We are trying to use the amendment to classify economic development as an important objective of technical assistance. Indeed, that description of technical assistance is taken from the 1980 Act, which sets out a definition of technical assistance that includes assistance in economic development.
The Bill makes no reference to economic development. What is wrong with the old definition? Why is it not included in the Bill? If it was an omission and if the Minister wishes to pop it back into the Bill, we would be terribly accommodating. The Minister is welcome to re-examine the provisions of clause 5, and do whatever is necessary to improve the Bill. I hope that the Government are not so arrogant as to think that the Bill is perfect. It is remarkable that no Government amendments have been tabled. It must be the only Bill in this Parliament not to have been amended by the Government. If the Minister wishes to take our advice, we will be happy to facilitate such an improvement.