Clause 17 - Interpretation
International Development Bill [Lords]
12:30 pm
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 20, in page 8, line 21, at end insert
` ``sustainable development'' has the meaning given in section 1.'.
The Opposition are trying to be helpful to the Government, as a definition is provided of ``sustainable development'' in clause 1(3). For a long time, much debate has taken place about the definition of sustainable development and it would certainly be helpful in relation to the interpretation of the Bill, and the work that it aims to do, to have that definition. I thought that it would be useful to include that in the list of interpretations in clause 17.
I have heard many debates on the Floor of the House in which an imprecision seemed to exist about the definition of sustainable development. Now that we have a definition, I thought that we should use it.