International Development Bill [Lords]
10:30 am
Mr Hilary Benn (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development; Leeds Central, Labour)
I shall not stray down that particular path, as it may get me into difficulty. I would describe the Bill not as a pot plant but as a sturdy sapling, which we hope will grow. I was also interested to see that you describe yourself as an erstwhile marathon runner. I hope that your marathon days are over, certainly as far as the Bill is concerned. A wide consensus was evident on Second Reading on 7 November, and I hope that the spirit and quality of the debate on that occasion, in which all the parties represented in the Room this morning took part, will be carried through to our discussions as we give careful scrutiny to the Bill in Committee.
The Bill is modest in size, but not unimportant. It will entrench in legislation the key principles to which the Government have been working in their approach to international development. As hon. Members will know, it puts at the heart of future United Kingdom development assistance the principle of the reduction of poverty. I am sure that all members of the Committee will happily sign up to and support that principle.
I trust that the sittings motion meets with general consent. I understand that it has been the subject of discussion through the usual channels. I, for one, look forward to the constructive and useful debates that I know are yet to come.